Budućnost VOLI Boost Frontcourt with Justin Smith

Budućnost VOLI continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. The newest addition to the team is American forward/center Justin Smith, who arrives in Podgorica from Hapoel Jerusalem.

Born on March 1, 1999, in Illinois, Smith stands 201 cm tall, weighs 104 kg and primarily plays at the power forward and center positions, although he spent most of his time at center during his stint with the Israeli club.

Smith is an exceptionally athletic player who brings a high level of intensity and embodies everything modern basketball demands from big men: speed, verticality, energy, above-the-rim finishing and the versatility to defend multiple positions.

Last season with Hapoel Jerusalem, Smith averaged 14.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals and a performance index rating of 17.6 in just over 23 minutes per game in the Israeli League. One of the most impressive aspects of his game was his efficiency inside the arc, where he converted nearly 69% of his two-point attempts, highlighting his aggressive, powerful style of attacking the basket.

Before joining Hapoel Jerusalem, Smith played for Hapoel Holon, where he immediately established himself as one of the league's standout performers. During the 2023/24 season, he averaged 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and a performance index rating of 18.3, earning a place in the Israeli League Second Team.

Smith began his college career at Indiana University, the same program attended by Budućnost VOLI guard Yogi Ferrell, before transferring to the University of Arkansas. In his senior season, he averaged 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. After college, he spent time in the NBA G League with the affiliates of Toronto and Philadelphia before launching his professional career in Israel.

---------------------------

Džastin Smit novi igrač Budućnost Volija!

KK Budućnost Voli nastavlja da gradi tim za novu sezonu. Novi igrač kluba je američki krilni centar Džastin Smit, koji u Podgoricu stiže iz Hapoela Jerusalima.

Smit je rođen 1. marta 1999. godine u Ilinoisu, visok je 201 centimetar, težak 104 kilograma i pokriva pozicije četiri i pet, mada je u izraelskom timu više vremena provodio na petici.

Riječ je o igraču izuzetnih atletskih sposobnosti, velikog intenziteta i profilu koji modernoj košarci donosi ono što je danas najtraženije kod visokih igrača: brzinu, vertikalnost, energiju, igru iznad obruča i mogućnost da u odbrani preuzima više pozicija.

U prethodnoj sezoni, u dresu Hapoela iz Jerusalima, Smit je u izraelskom prvenstvu prosječno bilježio 14,1 poen, 5,5 skokova, 1,1 ukradenu loptu i indeks korisnosti 17,6 za nešto više od 23 minuta po utakmici. Posebno se izdvaja njegova realizacija za dva poena, gdje je bio na gotovo 69 odsto uspješnosti, što najbolje govori o načinu na koji napada: brzo, snažno, direktno i blizu obruča.

Prije Hapoela Jerusalima nosio je dres Hapoela Holona, gdje je odmah pokazao da mu izraelska liga izuzetno odgovara. U sezoni 2023/24 prosječno je bilježio 16,2 poena, 6,5 skokova, 1,3 ukradene lopte i indeks korisnosti 18,3, pa je izabran u drugu najbolju petorku tamošnjeg šampionata.

Koledž karijeru počeo je na Indijani, gdje je igrao i Jogi Ferel. Tamo je proveo tri godine, a završio je na Arkanzasu, za koji je u seniorskoj sezoni prosječno postizao 13,6 poena i imao 7,2 skoka. Nakon toga igrao je u Razvojnoj ligi za ekipe povezane sa Torontom i Filadelfijom, prije nego što je evropsku karijeru započeo u Izraelu.