Phil Smith

Philip (Phil) Arnold Smith (April 22, 1952 – July 30, 2002) was an American professional basketball player who played for 9 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Collegiate career

A 6'4" All-American guard from the University of San Francisco, Smith was not heavily recruited out of George Washington High School . After graduating from high school a semester early, Smith followed his older brother and enrolled in night classes at the University of San Francisco. Having been seen playing in a pickup game on campus, he was recruited by coach Bob Gaillard, who enlisted him on the freshman squad (the NCAA did not allow freshmen to play on varsity at this time) where he averaged 16.7 ppg. He went on to lead the team in scoring in each of his three varsity seasons, 15.0, 18.7, and 20.7 ppg, for a career average of 18.1 ppg and was an all-West Coast Conference selection all three years. The Dons made appearances in the 1972 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament placing 4th in the Western Regional after losing to Weber State, and finished in the elite eight in the 1973 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, where they lost both times to UCLA under John Wooden. As a result he was drafted #1 in the 1973 ABA draft by the Virginia Squires, but declined leaving college early. He was named to the All-American team his senior year. Scoring 1,523 career points, he excelled at USF becoming...
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