Ronald Smith is the 19th 1,000-point scorer in YSU men’s basketball history to be enshrined in the Athletics Hall of Fame.
In his career from 1968-72, Smith, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound forward, played in 86 games, averaging 12.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He scored a total of 1,187 points while grabbing 718 rebounds. For his career he was 518-of-1,166 from the field and 151-of-246 from the free-throw line. He scored in double figures 62 times throughout his career.
During his senior year, Smith was second on the team in points (393) and rebounds (249). From the field, he made 167-of-396 attempts and 59 free throws in 26 contests. He was just shy of averaging a double-double at 15.1 points and 9.6 rebounds.
Smith scored double figures 23 times, paced by a season-high 25 against Western Illinois. He grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds to go along with 22 points against Walsh. In the three games at the NCAA Regional he scored 46 points. YSU finished the 1971-72 season with a 22-5 mark after starting the year with 18 consecutive wins.
His finest offensive season was his junior campaign when he scored 421 points, a 16.8 average. He also led the team that campaign with 238 rebounds (9.5 a game). From the field he made 186-of-433 attempts, both career highs, and added 49 free throws and 53 assists in 25 games.
He scored in double figures in 20 contests, recording a career-high 38 points on Dec. 23 versus Cleveland State. Against CSU, he was 15-of-29 from the field and made eight free throws.
Nine times he scored 20-or-more points and led the team in seven contests. He had a season-high 16 rebounds in two contests – Kenyon and Westminster. YSU was 19-6 for the year.
As a sophomore, Smith scored 285 points and grabbed 180 rebounds, averaging 11.4 points and 7.4 boards. He was 129-of-274 from the field and made 27 free throws. In 25 games played, he scored in double figures 16 times.
Smith had a season-high 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds against Illinois Wesleyan. Smith grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds against UW-Oshkosh. YSU reached the Mideast Regional and finished the season 22-5.
As a freshman, Smith played in 10 games in 1968-69. For the season he scored 88 points, including a 27-point effort versus St. Norbert. He scored 14 points and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds against Michigan Lutheran. He grabbed 46 rebounds for the year as YSU posted a 19-7 mark.
Smith is employed by General Motors in Lordstown and is a final process general foreman.
He attended North Bloomfield High School where he started all four years and led the program in scoring and rebounding.
Ron and his wife, Linda, have two children Nicole and Ronald, Jr. He and his wife reside in Youngstown.
