DJ Newbill
February 2, 2021
Dayshon Smith
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 11/11/94
- Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 188
- Weight (KG): 84
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Dayton (2013-2017)
- NBL DEBUT: 6/10/17
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 18/02/18
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Cairns 2018
- Championships: 0
- None
NICKNAME/S: Scoochie
BIO: Dayshon Smith was born in The Bronx, New York (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Dayshon Smith made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 22 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.
After finishing second with a 15-13 record before losing its semifinal series 2-0 to Perth the previous season, Cairns returned under head coach Aaron Fearne with Cameron Gliddon remaining captain. Travis Trice (to Brisbane), Mark Worthington (retired) and Fuquan Edwin (to Kauhajoki) departed, while Fearne added Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith (via Dayton), Michael Carrera (via Marinos de Anzoátegui) and Kuany Kuany (via Chaminade). Carrera suffered a medial meniscus tear in his right knee during a preseason game against Perth on September 23 and underwent surgery, with Jerry Evans Jr (via Sandringham) signed as his temporary injury replacement.
Smith signed with Cairns in July after four seasons at Dayton, where he became the school’s only three-time captain and earned All-Atlantic 10 First Team honours, before playing NBA Summer League with Boston. Fearne said, “We liked his size and his ability to run a team.”
Cairns opened the season at home against Illawarra on October 6, where Smith (6 points and 1 rebound) made his NBL debut as the Taipans escaped with an 88-87 win. Loughton (19 points and 3 rebounds) scored 16 points in the second half and made the game-winning free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining and McCarron (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) also contributed, while AJ Ogilvy (22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Illawarra. Jawai (12 points and 4 rebounds) injured his left foot during the game, with scans revealing a partial ligament tear which required surgery and ruled him out for 12 weeks.
Smith (10 points and 3 rebounds across 28 games) appeared in every game during his only season with Cairns and did not miss any games through injury. He started 17 games before moving to the bench in late December.
Two days after his debut, Smith (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) produced his first major performance against New Zealand, with his strong third quarter and second-half defence helping spark a 10-0 run as Cairns defeated the Breakers 82-71 in Auckland and opened the season 2-0. Weigh (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Gliddon (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) provided support, while Thomas Abercrombie (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks) led New Zealand.
Smith’s best game of the season came against Melbourne on November 9, where he finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals without a turnover as Cairns defeated United 92-69, completing a 45-point turnaround from its 22-point loss to Melbourne a week earlier. Gliddon (20 points) and McCarron (14 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) led the other contributions, while Casper Ware (12 points and 4 assists) was among Melbourne’s best. Carrera (2 points) suffered an ankle injury during the first quarter which ultimately ended his time with the Taipans.
Carrera (14.2 points and 3.6 rebounds across 5 games) was released in December after his ankle injury failed to respond to treatment, with Evans Jr (7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds across 22 games) taking the full-time import position. Jawai (5.4 points across 7 games) missed the majority of the season following surgery on his injured foot, while Cairns added Chris Patton (via Kilsyth) as his injury replacement before Patton (1.7 points across 13 games) was later released (to Melbourne) following Jawai’s return in January.
Smith produced his season-high scoring performance off the bench against Illawarra on December 28, finishing with 21 points and 6 rebounds as Cairns was defeated 106-102 at WIN Entertainment Centre. Loughton (22 points and 3 assists) and Gliddon (20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals) provided support, while Demitrius Conger (24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) led Illawarra. Fearne said afterwards, “That’s what he showed he can do and now the expectation is come out and put the foot on the throat all the time.”
Gliddon (12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals) and Loughton (12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds) led Cairns offensively alongside Smith and McCarron (11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), while Weeks (8.3 points), Weigh (5.7 points) and Egwu (5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds) were also key contributors. Gliddon set a new NBL record for consecutive free throws made to start a season and shared the Taipans’ club MVP award with McCarron, while Loughton collected the Members’ Choice MVP, Coaches Award and Players’ Player awards, McCarron was named Best Defensive Player and Jawai received the Commitment to Community award.
The season was also Fearne’s last with Cairns, with the club choosing not to renew his contract after 19 seasons with the Taipans, including nine as head coach. Fearne said the club had decided “that it is time for a new voice to carry the club forward into a new era.”
Cairns closed the season against Perth at Perth Arena on February 18, where Smith (2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) played 16 minutes off the bench, while Gliddon (12 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Evans Jr (12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led the Taipans and Bryce Cotton (24 points and 6 assists) powered Perth to an 89-61 win as Cairns finished sixth with an 11-17 record and missed the playoffs.
Dayshon Smith played one season in the NBL. He averaged 9.9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 28 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 23 | Cairns | 11-17 (6) | 28 | 600 | 279 | 85 | 65 | 19 | 66 | 23 | 4 | 48 | 53 | 97 | 238 | 41% | 31 | 91 | 34% | 66 | 147 | 45% | 45% | 47% | 21 | Totals | 28 | 600 | 279 | 85 | 65 | 19 | 66 | 23 | 4 | 48 | 53 | 97 | 238 | 40.8% | 31 | 91 | 34.1% | 66 | 147 | 44.9% | 46% | 47% | 21 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 23 | Cairns | 11-17 (6) | 28 | 21.4 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 8.5 | 41% | 1.1 | 3.3 | 34% | 2.4 | 5.3 | 45% | 45% | 47% | 21 | Total | 28 | 21.4 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 8.5 | 40.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 34.1% | 1.1 | 3.3 | 44.9% | 46% | 47% | 21 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 21 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Greece - Peristeri (2018–2020) | Lithuania - Juventus Utena (2023–2024) | Poland - Start Lublin (2022–2023) | Serbia - Mega Basket (2020–2022), KK Vojvodina (2024–2025) | Turkey - Manisa Basket (2025–2026)
In April 2019, Smith signed with Peristeri for the Greek Basket League playoffs, and he appeared in three league games in 2018–19 while averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 assists in 13.3 minutes per game, before also seeing action in six playoff games.
Smith re-signed with Peristeri on September 25, 2019, and during the 2019–20 Greek Basket League season he played 12 games and averaged 6.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 17.3 minutes per game while shooting .453 from the field and .600 from three.
On June 4, 2020, Smith signed with Mega Basket and played two seasons in the ABA League, posting 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game in 25 games in 2020–21, then 9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 26 games in 2021–22.
Smith signed with Start Lublin on September 26, 2022, and in the 2022–23 Polish league season he played 29 games and averaged 13.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.2 minutes per game while shooting .427 from the field, .375 from three and .848 at the line, alongside teammates including Gabe DeVoe and Sherron Dorsey-Walker.
On August 14, 2023, Smith signed a one-year deal with Juventus Utena in Lithuania, and across 34 LKL games in 2023–24 he averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game, earning All-LKL Team recognition while playing with teammates such as T.J. Starks and Brae Ivey.
Smith joined KK Vojvodina in 2024–25 and recorded 29 appearances across Serbia’s KLS and the Serbian RK Cup, averaging 9.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.7 minutes per game while shooting .431 from the field and .348 from three, with teammates that season including Jordan Dingle, Filip Rebraca and Tyrell Johnson.
On September 30, 2025, Smith signed with Manisa Basket in Turkey’s Basketbol Süper Ligi, and in the 2025–26 season he opened with 18 games where he averaged 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.4 minutes per game while playing alongside teammates including Jayce Johnson and Kristupas Zemaitis.
COLLEGE
Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith played his NCAA basketball career at Dayton, suiting up for the Flyers across the 2013-14 through 2016-17 seasons under head coach Archie Miller.
As a freshman in 2013-14, Smith appeared in all 37 games and totaled 641 minutes (17.3 minutes per game), scoring 132 points (3.6 per game) while finishing second on the team in assists with 73 (2.0 per game) and posting a team-best 1.8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (73 assists to 41 turnovers).
That 2013-14 Dayton team went 26-11 overall (10-6 in Atlantic 10 play) and earned an at-large NCAA tournament bid as an 11 seed in the South Region, then advanced to the Elite Eight by beating Ohio State 60-59, Syracuse 55-53, and Stanford 82-72 before falling to Florida 62-52 in the South Regional Final, with Smith recording five points and three assists against Syracuse, five points against Stanford, and five points and two assists in the Elite Eight loss to Florida.
In 2014-15, Smith moved into a major backcourt role and played 36 games with 35 starts, averaging 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 32.8 minutes per game while shooting 41.4% from the field, 38.0% on three-pointers (41-of-108), and 75.5% at the foul line, finishing the season with 330 points, 138 assists, and 52 steals.
Dayton finished 27-9 overall (13-5 in the Atlantic 10) and reached the NCAA tournament as an 11 seed in the East Region, where the Flyers beat Boise State 56-55 and Providence 66-53 before losing 72-66 to Oklahoma, and Smith averaged 12.7 points across those three tournament games while playing 117 of a possible 120 minutes, scoring 11 points against Boise State, 11 points against Providence, and 16 points against Oklahoma, while also receiving Dayton’s Dr. George Rau Spirit Award and the Uhl Family Endowed Scholarship for the season.
As a junior in 2015-16, Smith started all 33 games and averaged 11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 31.2 minutes per game, producing 385 points and 143 assists while shooting 43.9% from the field, 38.2% from three (47-of-123), and 66.7% at the line, and finishing with a 2.26 assist-to-turnover ratio (143 assists to 64 turnovers).
Smith’s 2015-16 season included a 26-point performance at Richmond on March 1, 2016 (with 24 of those points coming in the second half) and a career-high 29 points against VCU on March 5, 2016, and he set a career high with 11 assists in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinal against Saint Joseph’s on March 12, 2016 while also logging his first career double-double in that matchup with 14 points and 11 assists, earning Atlantic 10 co-Player of the Week recognition and NCAA.com Player of the Week honors during the stretch that included his late-season scoring surge.
Dayton went 25-8 overall (14-4 in Atlantic 10 play) to win the Atlantic 10 regular season title, then entered the NCAA tournament as a 7 seed in the Midwest Region and lost in the first round to Syracuse, 70-51.
In 2016-17, Smith served as a co-captain and started all 32 games, leading Dayton in minutes (1000), assists (144, 4.5 per game), and steals (51, 1.6 per game) while averaging 13.8 points per game and posting season totals of 442 points on 145-for-310 shooting (46.8%), 54-for-139 from three (38.8%), and 98-for-127 at the line (77.2%), alongside an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.06 (144 assists to 70 turnovers).
Smith was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 in 2016-17 and earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors for the week of December 30 after Dayton went 3-0 while he averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals during that span.
The 2016-17 Flyers finished 24-8 overall (15-3 in the Atlantic 10) to win the Atlantic 10 regular season championship, then received a No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Davidson, and in the NCAA tournament Dayton lost to Wichita State 64-58 in the First Round as Smith scored 25 points with four assists and four steals.
Across his Dayton career, Smith appeared in 138 games and finished with career per-game averages of 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 42.9% from the field, 36.8% from three, and 71.5% from the free-throw line, with his college listed as Dayton.
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