Chris Smith, a 6-3 shooting guard has asked for and received a release from Manhattan and it is being reported that he may transfer to Louisville.
Smith averaged 13.4 points and 5.7 rebounds last season while shooting 36.2 percent overall and 28.8 percent from three-point range.
From the Manhattan website...
2007-2008: Started 15 of 21 appearances... averaged 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 24.8 minutes per game... posted double figures in 10 contests, including three 20+ point performances... led Manhattan in scoring four times (Niagara 1/5, Rider 1/24, Binghamton 2/23, Fairfield 2/29)... set a career-high with 22 points at Rider (1/24)... posted back to back double-doubles in wins over Marist (2/15) and Siena (2/18)... grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds versus Siena (2/18)... finished third on the team in scoring... played all 40 minutes, scored 14 points and went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line versus Binghamton (2/23)... dished out a career-high five assists in MAAC quarterfinal victory over Saint Peter’s (3/7)... connected on a career-high nine field goals against Niagara (1/5) and at Rider (1/24)... led the Jaspers in assists six times, minutes five times and rebounds twice... shot 40.4% from the field.
BEFORE MANHATTAN: Named First Team All-Freelance League averaging 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game playing for head coach Danny Hurley at St. Benedict’s Prep... scored over 1,300 points in three years at Lakewood... invited to play in the Jordan Classic game... played AAU basketball for head coach Tim Salmon of Playaz... received tournament Most Valuable Player honors at the Bob Gibbons and Playaz Ball Tournaments... lettered two years in football at Lakewood as a wide receiver.
PERSONAL: Born October 13, 1987... son of Earl and Ida Smith... has three siblings, Stephanie, J.R. (a guard for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets), and Dimitrius... enjoys golfing in his spare time... an undecided major in the Arts Department.
From the NY Daily News when he signed with Manhattan...
If there was one thing Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen lacked this season, it was a proven scorer. Someone the Jaspers could bank on night in and night out for 15 or so points. Someone the Jaspers have lacked since the days of Luis Flores and C.J. Anderson.
Apparently, Christmas has come early to Riverdale this year as Rohrssen has landed that coveted scorer in St. Benedict's (N.J.) H.S. grad Chris Smith. Smith, a 6-3 guard, will enroll in Manhattan this week and could possibly be eligible to play as early as Sunday when the Jaspers travel to Princeton.
"(Manhattan) is getting a kid who is going to thrive in their style of play," St. Benedict's coach Danny Hurley said. "And he'll be playing for a coach that he's comfortable with because the family has known Barry since he recruited Chris' brother J.R. (now with the Denver Nuggets) when he was at Pittsburgh. Chris is a very athletic and talented kid who was a Big East recruit."
Rohrssen lost out on J.R. Smith, who opted for North Carolina over Pittsburgh. But in Chris Smith, Rohrssen is getting a premium guard who averaged 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists for powerhouse St. Benedict's last season. Smith originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Seton Hall last April. But he experienced some eligibility issues, and when he was granted his release from The Hall, Smith chose Manhattan over such larger brand name schools as Oklahoma State, Iowa, Iowa State, Washington State, Cincinnati, Creighton and George Mason.