Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
Men's Basketball Signs Saint Joseph's Transfer Jaden Smith
April 28, 2026 | Men's Basketball
The Ball State men's basketball team and head coach Chris Capko have announced the addition of Saint Joseph's transfer Jaden Smith to the program.
The 6-foot-11 center from Chicago will be a junior as he joins the team ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Smith played in all 36 games for the Hawks in the 2025-26 campaign, making one start, and averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game. The big man produced season bests in points (16) and rebounds (six) in a Nov. 25 win against Rutgers-Camden.
As a true freshman at Fordham in 2024-25, Smith posted 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game. A 14-point, 13-rebound double-double against Georgian Court was his most productive contest with the Rams.
Smith was a four-star recruit out of high school according to ESPN and the 23rd-ranked center in his class nationally and No. 6 overall recruit in the state of Illinois.
This is Ball State's fourth incoming transfer of the month after K'Jei Parker (UMass), Aaron Fine (Purdue) and Javion Guy-King (Central Arkansas) signed with the team earlier.
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The 6-foot-11 center from Chicago will be a junior as he joins the team ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Smith played in all 36 games for the Hawks in the 2025-26 campaign, making one start, and averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game. The big man produced season bests in points (16) and rebounds (six) in a Nov. 25 win against Rutgers-Camden.
As a true freshman at Fordham in 2024-25, Smith posted 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game. A 14-point, 13-rebound double-double against Georgian Court was his most productive contest with the Rams.
Smith was a four-star recruit out of high school according to ESPN and the 23rd-ranked center in his class nationally and No. 6 overall recruit in the state of Illinois.
This is Ball State's fourth incoming transfer of the month after K'Jei Parker (UMass), Aaron Fine (Purdue) and Javion Guy-King (Central Arkansas) signed with the team earlier.
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