Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame
Considered one of the most outstanding basketball players in program history, Zach Smith’s ’99 leadership and on-court dominance helped lead the Camels to many firsts as well as national recognition and the heights of Division III college basketball.
During Smith’s career, the men’s basketball team had tremendous success, posting four winning seasons and the best four-year record (85-20) and winning percentage (.810) in team history. As a freshman, the 6’4” guard/forward helped the Camels earn an 18-8 record– their first winning season in six years– as well as their first ECAC Tournament appearances since 1985. One year later, the squad went 17-7, and Smith was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team.
A two-year team co-captain as a junior and senior, Smith garnered numerous accolades in his final two seasons. In 1997-98, he was an All-NESCAC First Team and ECAC New England Second Team selection. That season, the squad earned its first NCAA Tournament bid, reached the Sweet 16 round, and finished 22-4 overall, including the school record for season wins.
One year later, Smith played a significant role leading the Camels to the finest basketball season in school history. The team climbed to the top of the national polls with a perfect 24-0 regular season mark and a number one ranking among the country’s Division III programs. Earning a second straight bid to the NCAA Tournament, the squad progressed through early-round play and won the Northeast Regional Championship.
Carrying a 27-0 into the Final Four round – the furthest any of the college’s teams has advanced in NCAA play – the Camels dropped their national semifinal contest. However, they rebounded to win an overtime consolation game, resulting in a 28-1 overall record and third-place NCAA finish. Along the way, numerous team and individual school records were broken, including season wins (28), consecutive wins (27) and season winning percentage (.966).
Smith was the 1999 ECAC New England Co-Player of the Year in addition to being named to the All-NESCAC First Team, ECAC New England First Team and Sears/NABC All-America Second Team. His exceptional career included a school record 1,393 career points (13.4 average), and he currently ranks second in all-time scoring behind teammate Kareem Tatum ‘01, a 2007 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
Smith also was the squad’s all-time leading shot-blocker with 201 rejections– a record he continues to hold today– and he had 710 career rebounds (7.0 average), 153 steals and 117 assists.
