Sam Smith (Basketball) Obituary, Cause of Death, Wife, Children

Sam Smith, a legendary Hazard High School basketball player, and one of the first African-American student athletes to integrate the University of Louisville basketball program has died.

Smith was born on January 27, 1944 and died on March 19, 2022, aged 78. A cause of death was not given.

There’s no information on Smith’s marital status. However, he had two children.

Sam Smith was an American professional basketball player who played several seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Born in Hazard, Kentucky, Smith played at Kentucky Wesleyan College, with whom he won the NCAA Division II championship in 1966.

In the final 15 seconds of that game, Smith made a layup, breaking a 51-51 tie and giving Kentucky Wesleyan the victory over Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

After college, Smith was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in 1967 on the third round, but never played in the NBA.

From 1967 to 1971, Smith played in the ABA as a member of the Minnesota Muskies, Kentucky Colonels, and Utah Stars.

Smith averaged 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in his ABA career, and won a league championship with the Stars.