University of Connecticut Athletics
Chris Smith To Be Honored Among BIG EAST Legends
3/6/2024 11:44:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK – Chris Smith, who has long been credited as the recruit who began the myriad of success that UConn men's basketball has enjoyed, will be honored as part of the inaugural group celebrated in the newly-created BIG EAST Basketball Legends Recognition Program.
Each of the Conference's 11 member schools were tasked with selecting a former prominent coach or player from both their men's and women's programs to be honored at the upcoming BIG EAST Tournaments – the Men's Legends will be honored during each team's first game at Madison Square Garden in New York City. As the No. 1 seed, UConn's opening game will be in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 14, at noon.
Smith, an outstanding 6-2 guard out of Kolbe Cathedral in Bridgeport, was the first national recruit to join Coach Jim Calhoun at UConn, playing from 1988-1992. Currently, 32 years later, Smith still ranks as the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,145 points and is also UConn's leading scorer in BIG EAST play with 1,140 points. He has the most double-figure scoring games in a career with 107.
Smith led the Huskies to their first BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles in 1989-90, which resulted in UConn's first NCAA Tournament bid in 11 years, reaching the Elite Eight. It was the first of three straight NCAA bids for the Huskies.
Smith was a three-time all-conference selection, including an all-BIG EAST First Team pick in 1991-92, and an NCAA East Regional all-tournament pick in 1990. He was voted onto UConn's All-Century Team by fans in 2001 and is a charter member of the Huskies of Honor, with his No. 13 on the wall of Gampel Pavilion.
Besides Smith, the first class of BIG EAST Men's Basketball Legends includes: Butler's Shelvin Mack (2008-11), Creighton's Randy Eccker (1974-78), DePaul's Wilson Chandler (2005-07), Georgetown's Reggie Williams (1983-87), Marquette's Jerel McNeal (2005-09), Providence's Ernie DiGregorio (1969-73), St. John's Marcus Hatten (2001-03), Seton Hall's Terry Dehere (1989-93), Villanova's Randy Foye (2002-06), and Xavier's J.P. Macura (2014-18).
"We are excited to launch this annual celebration of former players and coaches who have had profound impacts on the history and success of our 22 basketball programs," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "This first group of BIG EAST Legends includes trailblazers as well as more recent stars, all of whom have contributed significantly to their schools and many of whom are part of BIG EAST basketball lore. We look forward to giving them another big round of applause during our upcoming tournament festivities."
For more on each BIG EAST Legend, click HERE.
