(September 13, 2005) ?C Fordham University head men??s basketball coach Dereck Whittenburg announced that guard Marlon Smith (Bronx, NY/Archbishop Molloy) has transferred to Fordham from Penn State University. Per NCAA transfer regulations, Smith will sit out the 2005-06 season and have two years of eligibility remaining.
Smith started 13 games at Penn State last year, averaging 11.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game. He was named to the ASU Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team after scoring a career-high 33-points in Penn State's opening win over Long Island.
In his first season at Penn State, Smith became the first player in Penn State history to be named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Starting every game as a freshman, he ended the campaign 12th in the Big Ten in scoring (13.4 points per game), 13th in free throw percentage (.753) and seventh in three-pointers per game (2.21). Smith was also named Freshman All-America Honorable Mention by Street and Smith??s magazine. A tireless player, Smith averaged 36.2 minutes per game, playing in every second during nine games, including all 45 in an overtime win over Northwestern on January 28, 2004.
Smith was a two-year starter at Archbishop Molloy High School, playing for legendary coach Jack Curran. He was voted his team??s Most Valuable Player twice (after his junior and senior years). As a senior, he averaged 20 points per game along with 6.0 assists per contest, 7.0 rebounds per game and 3.0 steals per game. Smith served as a team captain during his senior year as well.
Smith helped guide Molloy to a spot in the City League Semifinals as a senior with a 28-point performance in the school??s upset-win over league favorite Rice in the quarters. He hit the game-winning shot in that contest as well. After the season, he was selected to play in the prestigious New York vs. Chicago All-Star Game. Smith was also voted team Most Valuable Player as a junior after averaging 22.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 7.0 apg and 3.0 spg.
In the classroom, Smith earned honors and second honors during his high school days at Archbishop Molloy.
The Rams, who finished 13-16 overall last year and 8-8 in the Atlantic 10, open their 2005-06 season on November 19th as they compete in the Paradise Jam Tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
