2017-18 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Smith, Zhaire
Forward
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Jersey Number 2
Zhaire Smith
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Garland, Texas
- High School:
- Lakeview Centennial HS
Bio
HONORS & AWARDS
2017-18 USBWA All-District 7 First Team
2017-18 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches/AP)
2017-18 All-Big 12 Newcomer Team
2017-18 All-Big 12 Defensive Team
2018 All-Big 12 Academic Rookie Team
FRESHMAN SEASON (2017-18)
Smith dialed up 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game … Appeared in all 37 games and inserted into the starting lineup in 21 of the last 22 games (Jan. 9-March 25) … His 417 total points were a program single-season freshman record … The 11.3 PPG were second on the team and fifth among Big 12 freshmen … First freshman in program history to secure All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and USBWA All-District 7 First-Team status … Reached double figures in 27 games which was second on the team only behind Keenan Evans … Texas Tech was 19-8 when Smith scored 10 or more points … Teamed with Jarrett Culver to average 22.5 PPG, third among Big 12 freshmen duos in 2017-18 … Connected on 55.6 percent of his field goal attempts, good enough for fourth place on the Big 12 leaderboard … His 185 rebounds, 42 blocks and 42 steals led the team … The 1.1 BPG were tied for 10th and 1.1 SPG were 15th in the Big 12 rankings … The 42 total blocks were second for a freshman in program history only behind Zach Smith’s 45 rejections in 2014-15 … Amassed 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks against South Alabama (Nov. 10) in debut … First career points came on a transition layup off a Zach Smith steal at the 15:54 mark of the first half … Put together 10 consecutive games in double figures (Nov. 25-Jan. 6) … The only other freshmen to accomplish the feat was Rick Bullock in 1972-73 … Provided 17 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting to go along with five assists versus Savannah State (Nov. 25) … Garnered 10 points, six rebounds, a season-high four steals and three assists against No. 22 Nevada (Dec. 5) … Upped his scoring mark to 12.3 PPG, and the 222 points were third in program history behind Culver and Martin Zeno for a freshmen in Big 12 action … Notched 15 points versus No. 18 Baylor (Dec. 29) in Big 12 opener … Collected 11 points and five rebounds during Texas Tech’s win at No. 10 Kansas (Jan. 2) … Extended the Red Raiders lead to 72-61 with a high-flying dunk from Evans off an inbounds play with 3:59 remaining … Worked his way to nine points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals versus No. 2 West Virginia (Jan. 13) … Reeled off nine straight games with 10-plus points (Feb. 3-March 3) to conclude the regular season … Chipped in 12 points and a season’s best four blocks at TCU (Feb. 3) … Exploded for a season-high 21 points on 7-of-8 from the floor coupled with eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks against Iowa State (Feb. 7) … Fired in 20 points and five rebounds versus No. 8 Kansas (Feb. 24) … Turned in 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG and 1.0 BPG in Texas Tech’s four NCAA Tournament games (March 15-25) … Reverse 360 dunk in first half fueled a 10-point, 8-rebound effort against Stephen F. Austin (May 15) during opening round … Racked up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, grabbed a season-high nine rebounds and handed out a season-best seven assists against No. 23 Florida (May 17) … Alley-opp dunk from Evans with 30 seconds to go punched the program’s first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance since 2004-05 … Added 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks versus No. 11 Purdue (March 23) … Wrapped the season with seven points and seven rebounds against No. 2 Villanova (March 25).
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
An extremely athletic wing/guard … Very talented shooter and passer with a big time motor and toughness … Played his high school basketball for JT Locklear at Lakeview Centennial … Ranked as high as a four-star signee by 247 Sports along with three-star nods from ESPN.com and Scout.com … Racked up 20.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game en route to District 10-6A MVP honors during his senior season … Voted best high school dunker by coaches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area … Came from same high school program as former Tech guard and All-Big 12 selection Toddrick Gotcher (2012-16) who plays for Cholet of French LNB Pro A league … Signed his National Letter of Intent (NLI) in April 2017 … Chose Texas Tech over Big 12 rival Texas.
SMITH'S TOP SCORING PERFORMANCES - THRU 2017-18 SEASON
RANK, POINTS, OPPONENT, DATE
1, 21, Iowa State, 02/07/2018
2, 20, No. 8 Kansas, 02/24/2018
3, 18, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
3, 18, at Oklahoma State, 02/21/2018
5, 17, Savannah State, 11/25/2017
6, 15, TCU, 03/03/2018
6, 15, at Baylor, 02/17/2018
6, 15, No. 18 Baylor 12/29/2017
9, 14, Abilene Christian, 12/22/2017
9, 14, South Alabama, 11/10/2017
11, 13 vs. No. 11 Purdue, 03/23/2018
11, 13, at Texas, 01/17/2018
11, 13, Kennesaw State, 12/13/17
11, 13, No. 23 Oklahoma, 02/13/2018
15, 12, at TCU, 02/03/2018
15, 12, Rice, 12/16/2017
SMITH'S CAREER HIGHS - THRU 2017-18 SEASON
POINTS
21, Iowa State, 02/07/2018
REBOUNDS
9, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
FIELD GOALS MADE
8, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE
2, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
2, at Oklahoma State, 02/21/2018
2, No. 23 Oklahoma, 02/13/2018
FREE THROWS MADE
8, at No. 20 West Virginia, 02/26/2018
8, No. 8 Kansas, 02/24/2018
ASSISTS
7, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
BLOCKS
4, at TCU, 02/03/2018
STEALS
4, No. 22 Nevada, 12/05/2017
MINUTES
42, Texas, 01/31/2018
2017-18 USBWA All-District 7 First Team
2017-18 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches/AP)
2017-18 All-Big 12 Newcomer Team
2017-18 All-Big 12 Defensive Team
2018 All-Big 12 Academic Rookie Team
FRESHMAN SEASON (2017-18)
Smith dialed up 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game … Appeared in all 37 games and inserted into the starting lineup in 21 of the last 22 games (Jan. 9-March 25) … His 417 total points were a program single-season freshman record … The 11.3 PPG were second on the team and fifth among Big 12 freshmen … First freshman in program history to secure All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and USBWA All-District 7 First-Team status … Reached double figures in 27 games which was second on the team only behind Keenan Evans … Texas Tech was 19-8 when Smith scored 10 or more points … Teamed with Jarrett Culver to average 22.5 PPG, third among Big 12 freshmen duos in 2017-18 … Connected on 55.6 percent of his field goal attempts, good enough for fourth place on the Big 12 leaderboard … His 185 rebounds, 42 blocks and 42 steals led the team … The 1.1 BPG were tied for 10th and 1.1 SPG were 15th in the Big 12 rankings … The 42 total blocks were second for a freshman in program history only behind Zach Smith’s 45 rejections in 2014-15 … Amassed 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks against South Alabama (Nov. 10) in debut … First career points came on a transition layup off a Zach Smith steal at the 15:54 mark of the first half … Put together 10 consecutive games in double figures (Nov. 25-Jan. 6) … The only other freshmen to accomplish the feat was Rick Bullock in 1972-73 … Provided 17 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting to go along with five assists versus Savannah State (Nov. 25) … Garnered 10 points, six rebounds, a season-high four steals and three assists against No. 22 Nevada (Dec. 5) … Upped his scoring mark to 12.3 PPG, and the 222 points were third in program history behind Culver and Martin Zeno for a freshmen in Big 12 action … Notched 15 points versus No. 18 Baylor (Dec. 29) in Big 12 opener … Collected 11 points and five rebounds during Texas Tech’s win at No. 10 Kansas (Jan. 2) … Extended the Red Raiders lead to 72-61 with a high-flying dunk from Evans off an inbounds play with 3:59 remaining … Worked his way to nine points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals versus No. 2 West Virginia (Jan. 13) … Reeled off nine straight games with 10-plus points (Feb. 3-March 3) to conclude the regular season … Chipped in 12 points and a season’s best four blocks at TCU (Feb. 3) … Exploded for a season-high 21 points on 7-of-8 from the floor coupled with eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks against Iowa State (Feb. 7) … Fired in 20 points and five rebounds versus No. 8 Kansas (Feb. 24) … Turned in 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG and 1.0 BPG in Texas Tech’s four NCAA Tournament games (March 15-25) … Reverse 360 dunk in first half fueled a 10-point, 8-rebound effort against Stephen F. Austin (May 15) during opening round … Racked up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, grabbed a season-high nine rebounds and handed out a season-best seven assists against No. 23 Florida (May 17) … Alley-opp dunk from Evans with 30 seconds to go punched the program’s first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance since 2004-05 … Added 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks versus No. 11 Purdue (March 23) … Wrapped the season with seven points and seven rebounds against No. 2 Villanova (March 25).
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
An extremely athletic wing/guard … Very talented shooter and passer with a big time motor and toughness … Played his high school basketball for JT Locklear at Lakeview Centennial … Ranked as high as a four-star signee by 247 Sports along with three-star nods from ESPN.com and Scout.com … Racked up 20.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game en route to District 10-6A MVP honors during his senior season … Voted best high school dunker by coaches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area … Came from same high school program as former Tech guard and All-Big 12 selection Toddrick Gotcher (2012-16) who plays for Cholet of French LNB Pro A league … Signed his National Letter of Intent (NLI) in April 2017 … Chose Texas Tech over Big 12 rival Texas.
SMITH'S TOP SCORING PERFORMANCES - THRU 2017-18 SEASON
RANK, POINTS, OPPONENT, DATE
1, 21, Iowa State, 02/07/2018
2, 20, No. 8 Kansas, 02/24/2018
3, 18, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
3, 18, at Oklahoma State, 02/21/2018
5, 17, Savannah State, 11/25/2017
6, 15, TCU, 03/03/2018
6, 15, at Baylor, 02/17/2018
6, 15, No. 18 Baylor 12/29/2017
9, 14, Abilene Christian, 12/22/2017
9, 14, South Alabama, 11/10/2017
11, 13 vs. No. 11 Purdue, 03/23/2018
11, 13, at Texas, 01/17/2018
11, 13, Kennesaw State, 12/13/17
11, 13, No. 23 Oklahoma, 02/13/2018
15, 12, at TCU, 02/03/2018
15, 12, Rice, 12/16/2017
SMITH'S CAREER HIGHS - THRU 2017-18 SEASON
POINTS
21, Iowa State, 02/07/2018
REBOUNDS
9, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
FIELD GOALS MADE
8, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE
2, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
2, at Oklahoma State, 02/21/2018
2, No. 23 Oklahoma, 02/13/2018
FREE THROWS MADE
8, at No. 20 West Virginia, 02/26/2018
8, No. 8 Kansas, 02/24/2018
ASSISTS
7, vs. No. 23 Florida, 03/17/2018
BLOCKS
4, at TCU, 02/03/2018
STEALS
4, No. 22 Nevada, 12/05/2017
MINUTES
42, Texas, 01/31/2018
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