Point guard Deivon Smith is transferring to St. John’s from Utah, giving Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino a veteran replacement for Daniss Jenkins next season.
A fifth-year senior, Smith ranked sixth in the country with 7.1 assists per game last season. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Utes, compiling five triple-doubles — second most during a single season in NCAA history and the most by any Pac-12 player.
In a St. John’s news release Monday, Pitino said the 6-foot Smith reminds him of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, a standout player for Pitino at Louisville.
“Super excited to have Deivon Smith joining the Johnnies,” Pitino said. “Total dog who rebounds, creates, and scores.”
Smith, from Decatur, Georgia, played his freshman season at Mississippi State and then spent two years with Georgia Tech. He shot a career-high 46.7% from the field in 28 games during his only season at Utah.