ChicagoHoops.com is reporting that former Marquette and UNLV basketball player Reggie Smith will be coming to Eastern.

Smith, a 6-foot, 175-pound guard out of Thornton High School, told the Las Vegas Sun in May that he was transferring from UNLV to be closer to home because of his grandmother’s illness. 

Smith averaged about six minutes and 2.5 points per game at UNLV in his only season there.

 On Aug.15, Smith replied to a user on his Twitter page who congratulated him on signing with the Panthers.  

Then on Aug. 21, Smith replied to another tweet, saying that he was already on Eastern’s campus.

Smith transferred from Marquette midway through his freshman season, where he started five of the eight games in which he appeared.

ChicagoHoops.com report says that newly added assistant coach Emanuel Didly was a key factor in Smith’s recruitment. 

Didly, who was added to head coach Jay Spoonhour’s staff in July, played two seasons at New Mexico State before finishing his career at Eastern. 

Didly was an assistant coach at Kennedy-King College from 2008-10.

The Panthers will play an exhibition game at 7 p.m. 

On Nov. 5 against Trinity International in Lantz Arena.

UPDATE: Eastern has released an official statement, saying Smith has joined the Panthers.

Dominic Renzetti can 

be reached at 581-2812 

or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.