April 1, 2014
RUSTON - Kenneth Smith gives out plenty of assists but he also takes plenty away from opponents in the form of steals.
As a result of his remarkable season, Speedy was one of 25 players selected to the 2013-14 Lefty Driesell All-America team announced on Monday.
The honor adds to Smith's growing list of postseason awards which include first team All-Conference USA, C-USA All-Defensive team member, C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and being named to the C-USA All-Tournament team.
He shattered the program record for most steals in a single season with 90, third most in the country, and set the record for most steals in a single game with eight versus Middle Tennessee which tied for the second most in the country.
The junior point guard registered at least three steals in 13 games, averaging 2.5 swipes per game which ranked in the top 10 nationally as well.
The team also includes Cameron Ayers (Bucknell), Khem Birch (UNLV), Alec Brown (Green Bay), Rhamel Brown (Manhattan), Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky), Tekele Cotton (Wichita State), Aaron Craft (Ohio State), Scott Eatherton (Northeastern), Joel Embiid (Kansas), Justin Jackson (Cincinnati), Jordair Jett (Saint Louis), Nick Johnson (Arizona), Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Hampton), K.J. McDaniels (Clemson), Daniel Miller (Georgia Tech), Chris Obekpa (St. John's), Elfrid Payton (UL-Lafayette), Trevor Releford (Alabama), Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State), Corey Walden (Eastern Kentucky), Scottie Wilbekin (Florida), Kendall Williams (New Mexico), Briante Weber (VCU) and Patric Young (Florida).
As a member of the Defensive All-America team, the St. Petersburg, Fla. native is automatically a finalist for the 2014 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year award.
The winner of the award will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 4 in Dallas, Texas, site of the Division I Men's Final Four.
The Lefty Driesell award is named in honor of coaching legend Lefty Driesell, who is the only person to ever win 100 games at four different Division I schools.
He is best known for his time at Maryland, leading the program to the National Invitation Tournament title in 1972 and its second-ever ACC Tournament championship in 1984. He finished his career at Maryland with a 348-159 record and concluded his career with an impressive 786-394 mark.
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