Darin Smith Jr. - NEC Player of the Year to the Big 10 & Ready for Rutgers

Darin Smith Jr. is taking the next step in his career, transferring to Rutgers and preparing to compete in the Big Ten. Smith is coming off a season where he established himself as one of the nation’s best scorers, averaging 20.7 points per game, which ranked 21st in the country. With Rutgers returning a lot of key pieces from last season, the Scarlet Knights have high hopes for what Smith can bring to the team.

Smith’s 2025-26 campaign at Central Connecticut State was one of the best individual seasons in program history. He scored 621 points, the third-most in a single season in CCSU history, while earning NEC Player of the Year honors. His production helped establish him as one of the top players in the conference and set the stage for his move to the Big Ten.

At 6-foot-7, Smith is a versatile wing who can score at all three levels, giving Rutgers another dynamic offensive weapon. Even more intriguing, Smith has two years of eligibility remaining, giving him plenty of time to continue developing and proving himself at the highest level of college basketball. With his scoring ability and experience already under his belt, there’s no telling where his future can go.

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