UPEI Panthers guard Deontay (D.J.) Smith has been named the Atlantic University Sport rookie of year.
He received the award Thursday night during the conference banquet in Halifax.
The six-foot guard from North Preston, N.S., is the first Panthers player to claim the award since Sherone Edwards in 2002-03.
Smith finished fifth in league scoring with 17.3 points per game while starting all 20 games.
“We are very proud of D.J. here at UPEI,” said UPEI coach Tim Kendrick. “We knew we were getting a very good basketball player and an even better young man. He has done everything that has been asked of him, and more.”
Smith, who was also named a first team all-star, finished second in the conference assists (4.4 per game) and seventh in league rebounding with seven per game. He reached double figures in 18 of 20 games this season, including eight 20-plus point efforts.
Smith will represent the conference for the Dr. Peter Mullins trophy as the country’s top rookie.
