Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall got a better look at guard Daishon Smith on his second trip

Daishon Smith didn’t play his best when Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall watched him practice earlier this fall. A groin injury slowed him, and Smith didn’t despair.

When Marshall returned in early October, Smith’s body had healed and he played much better in a jamboree for Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College.

“I finished with 18 points in one game and then 25 points,” Smith said. “I knew that once I got healthy everything would be good and I would show my full potential.”

Things moved quickly from there. Smith (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) gave WSU a non-binding commitment on Sunday before leaving Wichita to fly back to Tallahassee.

Smith is a sophomore who played last season at Eastern Florida State College. He earned honorable mention all-conference honors after averaging 8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.3 turnovers and 3 rebounds in 32 games, two of them starts. He attended Ribault High in Jacksonville, Fla.

“He’s extremely fast with the ball,” said Cameron Belden, a scout for Mullen Sports recruiting service. “He can be playing alongside other fast people and he looks extra fast. Athletically, he’s so special, he’s going to be a very good defender.”

Tallahassee coach Mark White said he recruited Smith as a guard who could play both spots. After working with him through the summer and fall, he now considers him a point guard.

“He’s got a great feel for the game,” White said. “He’s really hard to keep in front of you and he’s got a really good feel for passing. He’s just a great fit for Wichita State. He’s a great, lockdown, type of defender.”

Smith describes himself as a combo guard — he’s heard style comparisons with Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook — with a strong instinct for defense.

“I’m very good at attacking and putting pressure on the defense,” he said. “I’ve built a great relationship with (assistant) Coach (Greg) Heiar. I feel like it’s a good fit to come in behind Fred (VanVleet) and Ron (Baker), just to make things happen and keep the program going.”

Smith said he spent a lot of time with VanVleet, WSU’s senior point guard, on the visit.

“He told me I would get better, that if basketball was something I really liked then coming to Wichita was definitely the right fit,” Smith said. “He told me that I would improve my game, individual-wise, and winning is just something Coach Marshall is really great at.”

While Smith struggled on the court during Marshall’s first look, he didn’t mope and Marshall noticed his demeanor.

“He’s a tremendous competitor,” White said. “Coach Marshall really pointed out that Daishon was being a great leader. He really couldn’t practice, but on the sidelines he was so involved in everything and enthusiastic.”

Smith said he scores most of his points in the lane. He is working on his outside shot and considers it more of a weapon now than last season. He made 74 of 186 shots (39.8 percent) and 20 of 79 three-pointers (25.3 percent). His ability to drive and draw fouls resulted in 117 free throws and he made 89 (76.1 percent).

“I’m very good finishing with contact,” he said. “I didn’t shoot it so well last year, but that’s the (area) of my game where I’ve improved. That was the downfall of my game, because a lot of teams could play off me. I feel more comfortable shooting the ball now.”

Smith said he also considered Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State.

Smith is the second player from the class of 2016 to commit to WSU and is scheduled to be the third addition to the 2016-17 roster, all of whom play in the backcourt.

Guard C.J. Keyser, from Brewster (N.H.) Academy committed to WSU in September. WSU also has transfer guard Peyton Allen, who spent his freshman season at Texas A&M, on the practice squad this season. Athletes can sign with schools beginning Nov. 11. WSU coaches cannot comment on athletes until they sign.

This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall got a better look at guard Daishon Smith on his second trip."