On Monday, former Dayton Flyer Malachi Smith announced his commitment to UConn to complete the 2025-26 backcourt depth that will be among the best in college basketball for next season.
The rising senior is coming off his best season in college, averaging 10.4 points, 5.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and one steal in 33 games played during the 2024-25 season. It was imposed considering he only played one game during the 2023-24 season and did not score a point.
He ranked 14th nationally in assist rate (38.1%) and averaged a 2.51 assist-to-turnover ratio (95th percentile).
According to 247Sports, the 6-foot guard from The Bronx, N.Y. ranked 59th out of players in the transfer portal.
While in the transfer portal, Smith visited Wake Forest and had heard from other Northeast schools such as St. John’s, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Rutgers and Iona.
“Smith can be a dizzying point guard to defend in the pick-and-roll game,” Isaac Trotter, a college basketball analyst for 247Sports, wrote in a scouting report. “[He] can throw pinpoint passes with the best of ‘em, and you cannot forget about him on the perimeter.”
Trotter hit the nail on the head with that last part, as Smith shot 38.3% from 3-point range. That will especially be vital next season after UConn went cold down the final stretch of their three-peat attempt, which came up short.
“We’re excited to add a guard like Malachi into the mix here in Storrs,” Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley said in a press release. “He is a dynamic playmaker, a strong outside shooter and a veteran presence that has played in and won a lot of games. We have no doubt that he can be the next great New York City Husky and help our program reach our championship goals.”
Players from the New York City area have done well in Storrs.
Kemba Walker, widely regarded as the most clutch player in program history, grew up in the same borough as Smith.
Hassan Diarra, who just finished a decorated three years with the Huskies and was the starting point guard this past season, grew up in Queens, N.Y.
Taliek Brown, the starting point guard on the 2004 national championship team, went to St. John’s Prep in Queens.
Smith was a standout player at St. Raymond High School for Boys, leading the men’s basketball team to the 2020 NYCHSAA AA regular season championship. Before his final season in high school was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was named to the All-CHSAA first team and earned a spot on the All-New York third team.
CT Insider’s Roger Cleaveland spoke with Jorge Lopez, his high school coach. Lopez told Cleaveland that Smith “is a perfect fit for the Huskies.”
“He’s not the most athletic guard,” Lopez continued with Cleaveland. “He is not going to wow you with his size. But in terms of his efficiency, I think he can really take a talented roster to the next level.”
Trotter compared Smith to current Texas Tech point guard Elijah Hawkins, citing that they “have plenty of similarities.”
Over his career, he played in 87 games, starting 77 of them, for the Flyers. His career averages include 9.3 points, 5.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1% from the floor and 38.8% from deep.
Smith faced the Huskies in the seventh-place game at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 27, 2024. In the 85-67 rout over the defending back-to-back national champions, Smith scored nine points on 2-7 shooting and a perfect 4-4 performance from the free-throw line.
That caught Hurley’s eye, according to Elliot Rosado, his dad. He told David Jablonski of the Dayton Daily News that Hurley said that he needs Smith and realized his potential when he went up against him in Maui.
He is not going to wow you with his size. But in terms of his efficiency, I think he can really take a talented roster to the next level.Jorge Lopez, Men’s Basketball Coach at St. Raymond High School For Boys
Smith is the second player to commit to UConn out of the transfer portal this offseason, joining Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr., who will likely replace Diarra in the starting lineup.
The overall recruiting class is loaded, with a freshmen class including Darius Adams, Jacob Furphy, Braylon Mullins and Eric Reibe.
There are four scholarships available for Hurley and the coaching staff to use. The only player on the roster with his decision looming is Alex Karaban. Expect more players to commit to the Huskies out of the transfer portal. Those players will likely be in the frontcourt, as the backcourt seems to be set.
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