Florida basketball star Dylan Smith signs with Dalton State on a visit to the DS campus. Roadrunner assistant basketball coach John Redman, standing, watches. Seated, from left, are Deidre Smith, mother; Dylan Smith and Craig Smith, father.
John Redman, Dalton State’s assistant men’s basketball coach, has been recruiting south Alabama and the Florida panhandle for several years.
Redman used his connection to the Sunshine State this week to sign a player from one of the most competitive junior college conferences in the country, the Florida Panhandle Athletic Conference.
Dylan Smith, 21, a 6’ guard from Rosemary Beach, signed with the Roadrunners Wednesday afternoon in the James E. Brown Center on the DS campus.
“I am really excited about helping to start back this program,” Smith said. “I look forward to having great times and winning games for Dalton State College.”
The newest Roadrunner averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals per game while playing for South Walton High School. His game high was 38 points.
During his two years at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City he had a game high of 21 points with an average of 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. At the same time, the business management major was a Florida Academic All State.
“I look forward to playing with Coach Ingle and Coach Redman,” Smith said. DS coaches are thrilled to have him.
“Dylan is a class act,” said Redman. “He has played a high level of basketball coming from one of the most powerful junior college conferences in the country.”
Head Coach Tony Ingle shares the enthusiasm.
“We are thrilled to have Dylan Smith in our program and I am sure our fans will love watching him,” Ingle said. “There is no way we could have signed Dylan without Coach Redman. He has been working him for years and I’m excited for him as well.”
Dylan is the son of Deidre and Craig Smith. He has one brother, Tanner. “He comes from a basketball family and we are excited to have him join OUR new basketball family,” said Redman. The coach said Craig Smith is a long-time volunteer coach at the recreation through college levels.
The Roadrunners begin their inaugural season on the road. On Wednesday, October 30th they travel to Mobile, AL to play Coach Redman’s former school, Spring Hill College. Tip-off has been set at 7:00 pm CDT.
DS will stay on the road. On Friday, November 1st, they will be at Jackson, MS to take on Belhaven University at 7:00 pm CDT. After three nights at home, they travel to Central, SC to battle Southern Wesleyan University at 7:00 pm EST.
The first home game is scheduled for November 7th at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. The Roadrunners will host Hiwassee College at 7:00 pm.
DS has exhibition games scheduled on the road against two NCAA Division 1 Schools. Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL at 4:00 pm CST on November 22nd and Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN on December 30th at 7:30 pm CST.