Native New Orleanian becomes 4th signee of Gold Rush

NEW ORLEANS — Native New Orleanian Gary Smith is Xavier University of Louisiana's fourth men's basketball signee for the 2012-13 season.

Smith, a 6-foot-1 point guard, lives in Sugar Land, Texas, and will graduate Thursday from The Village School in Houston, where he started on the varsity the past four seasons, was a four-year team captain and became the school's all-time assists leader. He was chosen the team's top defensive player four consecutive seasons.

Smith averaged 14.5 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals per game as a senior.

Reggie Rankin of Scouts Inc., writing on ESPN.com, had this analysis of Smith at the 2009 National Prep Alliance Invitational Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas: "Smith has a nice midrange game, finds the open man and plays under control."

Smith was a four-time all-tournament selection. As a sophomore he averaged 13 points and six assists per gane.

Previously signed with the Gold Rush were guard RJ Daniels of New Orleans, guard Xavier Rogers of Denton, Texas, and forward John Gibson of Marietta, Ga.

Xavier was 23-9 this past season, shared the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship, qualified for the second straight year for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and ranked 24th in the postseason coaches poll. Xavier's 27 seasons of 20 or more victories are the most in the history of Louisiana men's college basketball.


#5 Gary Smith II highlights from the National Prep Alliance Tourney 2012

2012-13 Xavier men's basketball signees 
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.* Hometown High School (College)
RJ Daniels G 6-4 190 Fr. New Orleans, La. St. Augustine
John Gibson F 6-7 195 Fr. Marietta, Ga. Walton
Xavier Rogers G 6-2 175 Jr. Denton, Texas Lake Dallas (Grambling)
Gary Smith G 6-1 180 Fr. Sugar Land, Texas The Village School
* athletic classification at Xavier in fall of 2012

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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