UConn’s defense of back-to-back titles fell short to the eventual national champions, Florida. Hurley wouldn’t stay down for long, adding star Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. earlier in the portal. However, they added another big name to their class on Monday, with star Dayton point guard Malachi Smith committing to UConn. Smith represents a true point guard on Hurley’s squad, but what exactly does he bring to the table? How does he fit with Demary? Is UConn becoming a serious contender next season?
NEWS: Dayton transfer guard Malachi Smith has committed to UConn, he tells @On3sports.
The 6-0 junior averaged 10.4 points and 5.3 assists per game this season, including a 22-point, 9-assist performance against Iowa State.https://t.co/hBrQgyVcuQ pic.twitter.com/ka4aja0DuK
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 14, 2025
UConn Adds Star Point Guard Malachi Smith in Transfer Portal
What Does Malachi Smith Bring to UConn?
Smith is a true dynamic point guard. Dayton may not have had as successful a season as they hoped to, but Smith was one of the few bright spots on the team. He averaged a career-high 10.4 points per game for the Flyers this past season. However, Smith always brings more to the table in playmaking. He averaged at least 5.3 assists in each of his three full seasons at Dayton, while never averaging more than 2.1 turnovers per game. His ability to make smart decisions to find open teammates made him one of the top true point guard transfers in the class. Smith is also relatively efficient from the floor, averaging 42.4% from the floor and 38.3% from three. He may not have the flashiest numbers, but Smith provides UConn with a smart and experienced guard.
How Does Smith Fit with Demary?
Adding Smith frees Demary up to make plays. Demary averaged 3.1 assists per game this past season, but he is a true scorer. He wants to put the ball in the basket. Not only does the addition of Smith take Demary off ball-handling duties, but it also adds another offensive weapon for opposing teams to worry about. Demary was the star of Georgia’s NCAA Tournament team, often leaving him with difficult scoring options in a loaded SEC. However, Smith is a scoring threat if left alone, meaning Demary will have more space to work. Smith will have a field day at UConn, finding people open with all the offensive talent in the backcourt. If somebody were to put a clinic on how to put players in better positions through the transfer portal, Dan Hurley should teach it with these additions.
What Does UConn Need to Win the National Championship
All questions at guard have been answered for UConn with the addition of Malachi Smith. UConn has elite high school recruits as well, including a 7-foot power forward, Eric Reibe. They have frontcourt depth returning, but they will need an elite center to fill in. Reibe may provide that, but freshmen are often difficult to judge outside of the top 10-20 prospects. They could end all doubt if they could pick up one of the top centers remaining in the class. They won the national championships with Donovan Clingan defending the paint, so they may need another version of him to come out on top in 2026. At the end of the day, Hurley has earned the benefit of the doubt with roster construction and likely has a plan in place already.
Photo credit: © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
