Photo and story courtesy of GoRacers.com...
Murray State men's basketball coach Matt McMahon
announced the signing of 6-2 guard DaQuan Smith, out of Holly Springs High
School in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Smith will play his senior season in 2017-18 and be a freshman with the Racers
in 2018-19.
"We are extremely excited to welcome DaQuan and his family to Murray State,"
said McMahon. "DaQuan is a very explosive scorer with great athleticism at the
guard position. He can really shoot the three with NBA range, and also excels as
a creative scorer off the dribble. Off the court, DaQuan is a good student and
the president of his class at Holly Springs. He is going to make a tremendous
impact in our program, both on and off the basketball court."
Recently named to the Clarion Ledger boys' basketball Dandy Dozen (top 12
players in the state), Smith has impressed in his three seasons of varsity
basketball at Holly Springs.
"DaQuan is a high character young man," said Holly Springs
Coach Sylvester Kilgore. "He's a leader on the court and off it. He's got
explosive athletic ability and can score at a high rate. He's got a great jump
shot and has great range for the college game."
The Murray State program is getting a talented player as Smith heads into his
senior season with more than 1,800 career points and is on pace to become the
all-time scorer at Holly Springs.
"A lot of interest was shown, but you go where you're wanted," Kilgore added.
"The way Coach McMahon runs his program at Murray was very appealing to DaQuan
and his family. It's a family-type atmosphere and the team was very welcoming.
I've had a lot of talented players come through here, but DaQuan is the
strongest academically. He'll have college credit when he arrives at Murray and
that's exciting for me as a coach and the teachers at our school."
Smith averaged 26.3 points per game as a junior in the 2016-17 season and was
named Mississippi All-State as a sophomore and junior. He led the Hawks to the
Mississippi State Tournament three-straight seasons in Class 3A. HSHS has won
three-straight district titles in going 29-1.