Phil Smith

Philip Arnold Smith (April 22, 1952 – July 29, 2002) was an American professional basketball player who spent nine seasons in the National Basketball Association. A 6'4" shooting guard, he played for several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, the San Diego Clippers, and the Seattle SuperSonics.

Smith came out of George Washington High School with little recruiting attention. After graduating a semester early, he followed his older brother to the University of San Francisco, enrolling in night classes. He was spotted during a pickup game on campus and recruited by coach Bob Gaillard, who placed him on the freshman squad, as NCAA rules of the era barred freshmen from varsity play. There he averaged 16.7 points per game.

Over his three varsity seasons with the Dons, Smith led the team in scoring each year, posting averages of 15.0, 18.7, and 20.7 points per game for a career mark of 18.1. He earned all-West Coast Conference selection in all three seasons. San Francisco reached the 1972 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, placing fourth in the Western Regional after a loss to Weber State.