UT-Martin adds UNLV transfer

Dominic Renzetti, Assistant Sports Editor

Former UNLV guard Deville Smith is heading to the Ohio Valley Conference for his fourth school in four years and will be able to play right away, according to a report by NBCSports.

Smith has received a waiver and will be eligible to play for Tennessee-Martin immediately this season, according to the NBCSports report posted Monday. He first committed to the Skyhawks in August. He will have one year of eligibility.

Smith started 18 games as a junior and averaged 9.7 points per game. Smith, who was rated by ESPN as the 14th best point guard in the country coming out of Callaway High School in Jackson, Miss., spent his freshman season at Mississippi State. He transferred to Southwest Mississippi Community College in 2012 before heading back to the Division I ranks at UNLV.

Tennessee-Martin finished 8-23 last season and fired head coach Jason James at the end of the year. Former UNLV assistant coach Heath Schroyer replaced James.

Eastern takes on Tennessee-Martin twice this season, first on Jan. 29, 2015, on the road, then on Feb. 19, 2015, at Lantz Arena. Eastern has a UNLV transfer of its own in senior guard Reggie Smith, who left the Rebels after the 2011-12 season.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-2812 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.