Liberty adds a commitment from 6’9″ Stetson transfer forward Josh Smith. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Playing at Stetson, Smith started 11 of 14 games he played in this past season, averaging 22.6 minutes per game. He also averaged 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest while shooting 55.7% from the field and making 4 of 12 three-pointers while also shooting 64.1% from three free throw line.

Smith was hampered by injuries throughout the year, missing the non-conference portion of the schedule before returning to the lineup and suffering an injury that ended his season late in the year. In his last two contests of the season before suffering the season ending injury, Smith averaged 21.5 points and 11 rebounds, notching his second and third double doubles of the season. He scored 19 while adding 11 rebounds against Bellarmine, following that up with 24 points and 11 boards against Eastern Kentucky.

During the 2022-23 season, Smith started 27 of 31 games while shooting 57.5% from the field, 78.9% from the e free throw line. He averaged 9.5 points and 6 rebounds per game.

For his career at Stetson, Smith played in 94 games while making 60 starts. He averaged 20.3 minutes, 7.8 points, and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 51.8% from the field, 31.5% from three (47 of 149) and 69.4% from the free throw line.

Playing for the Hatters in the ASUN, Smith faced off against his new team several times. Just one year ago, Smith scored 9 points on 4 of 7 shooting with 2 rebounds in 19 minutes played against the Flames at Liberty Arena on January 26.

Smith is originally from Monrovia High School in Monrovia, Indinana where he averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and two assists per game as a senior while shooting 51 percent from the field, 32 percent (31-98) from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.

With the commitments of Smith as well as JUCO transfer Owen Aquino and Division II transfer Taelon Peter, Liberty currently has one scholarship remaining for the 2024-25 season.