Tulsa Signs Florida Big Man Ian Smikle
11/9/2023 10:39:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa men's basketball program signed Florida big man Ian Smikle to a national letter-of-intent on the first day of national signing day Wednesday, Head Coach Eric Konkol announced.
The 6'9", 250-pound Smikle comes to Tulsa from Suncoast Community High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he has averaged a double-double in each of the last two seasons.
A four-year starter, Smikle enters his senior year after earning first-team all-county accolades in each of the last two seasons. He scored at a 17.1 clip last year, while pulling down 12.1 rebounds and averaging 3.7 blocks. Smikle was named to the Sun Sentinel Fab Five, as one of the top five players in Palm Beach County, while also earning Class 5A all-state honors a year ago.
As a sophomore, he averaged a double-double with 12.9 points, 12 rebounds and added 1.7 blocks, 1.6 steals and 1.2 assists per game. Smikle was named the Sun Sentinel All County Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
"Ian has a special combination of size, energy, physicality and just a wonderful person to be around that we were really attracted to," said Konkol. "We saw him during the spring and summer and believe he has a variety of skills. He can dribble, he can pass, he can dribble handoff. He is developing into a guy who can hit perimeter jump shots as well. More than anything, we just loved his energy and enthusiasm for the game and we're very happy he chose to join us here at The University of Tulsa."
Smikle is ranked 34th in state of Florida for the class of 2024 by FloridaHoops.com and has a 3-star rating by Rivals. He also played AAU basketball with the Nightrydas.
"Ian is a very physical player. He plays strong on the block. He's a traditional post-up guy. Ian is a bruiser under the basket. We're stretching his game out this year quite a bit. He's shooting the three-ball and can get to the basket from the wing position. Ian definitely has a huge upside," said Suncoast Head Coach Jason Powell.
The 6'9", 250-pound Smikle comes to Tulsa from Suncoast Community High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he has averaged a double-double in each of the last two seasons.
A four-year starter, Smikle enters his senior year after earning first-team all-county accolades in each of the last two seasons. He scored at a 17.1 clip last year, while pulling down 12.1 rebounds and averaging 3.7 blocks. Smikle was named to the Sun Sentinel Fab Five, as one of the top five players in Palm Beach County, while also earning Class 5A all-state honors a year ago.
As a sophomore, he averaged a double-double with 12.9 points, 12 rebounds and added 1.7 blocks, 1.6 steals and 1.2 assists per game. Smikle was named the Sun Sentinel All County Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
"Ian has a special combination of size, energy, physicality and just a wonderful person to be around that we were really attracted to," said Konkol. "We saw him during the spring and summer and believe he has a variety of skills. He can dribble, he can pass, he can dribble handoff. He is developing into a guy who can hit perimeter jump shots as well. More than anything, we just loved his energy and enthusiasm for the game and we're very happy he chose to join us here at The University of Tulsa."
✍🏾✍🏾Welcome to Tulsa Ian Smikle
— Tulsa Basketball (@TUMBasketball) November 9, 2023
-Rivals/ESPN 3⭐️ Recruit
-Prep Hoops #2 Big Man in Florida
-Prep Hoops Top 30 Recruit in Florida pic.twitter.com/GH95kIq7FZ
Smikle is ranked 34th in state of Florida for the class of 2024 by FloridaHoops.com and has a 3-star rating by Rivals. He also played AAU basketball with the Nightrydas.
"Ian is a very physical player. He plays strong on the block. He's a traditional post-up guy. Ian is a bruiser under the basket. We're stretching his game out this year quite a bit. He's shooting the three-ball and can get to the basket from the wing position. Ian definitely has a huge upside," said Suncoast Head Coach Jason Powell.
MBB | Konkol Memphis Preview
Monday, January 19
MBB | Konkol 1-12-26 Preview
Monday, January 12
MBB | Konkol USF Preview
Monday, January 05
MBB | Konkol Western Kentucky Preview
Tuesday, December 16