Elmore Smith was the 7’0” anchor for Kentucky State’s back-to-back NAIA National Championship teams in 1970 and 1971, and he was named to the All Tournament Team in both years.  In his three-year career at Kentucky State, he scored 1,813 points and had 1,917 rebounds.  He still holds the collegiate all-divisions record for rebounds in a season with 799 rebounds in 1971.  

 

As a freshman, he averaged 14.7 points and 19.8 rebounds.  As a sophomore, he put up 21.6 points and 22.7 rebounds per game.  In his final season, he put up astonishing numbers by averaging 25.5 points, 24.2 rebounds and 8.1 blocks per game.  He was named Second Team All American as a sophomore, and First Team All American as a junior.

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Elmore was named to the NAIA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams,and was also inducted into the Georgia Hall of Fame.  After his junior season at Kentucky State, he was selected as the 3rd overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Buffalo Braves.

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