Stevin Smith
Stevin L. "Hedake" Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 24, 1972 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Former professional basketball player |
| Known for | 1994 Arizona State point-shaving controversy |
Stevin L. "Hedake" Smith (born January 24, 1972) is a former American professional basketball player, notably linked to the 1994 Arizona State point-shaving controversy.
Early life
Smith was born in Dallas, Texas, as the sole son of Eunice Smith and distinguished himself as a prominent high school basketball athlete. He continued his basketball journey at Arizona State University under the guidance of head coach Bill Frieder. The moniker "Hedake" was derived from a nickname his mother gave him, later adapted for a custom license plate.
College career
From 1991 to 1994, Stevin "Hedake" Smith served as a point guard for Arizona State University, earning All-Pac-10 honors twice. Nevertheless, he became embroiled in the 1994 Arizona State point-shaving scandal alongside teammate Isaac Burton, involving wagering on manipulated games. Smith received $20,000 for altering the score margin during the January 28, 1994 matchup against the Oregon State team. Following his arrest in 1997, he admitted guilt to conspiracy charges related to fixing four games and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.
Smith remains Arizona State’s career leader in both three-point attempts and successful three-point shots.
Professional basketball career
After failing to secure a spot on an NBA roster in 1994, Smith took his talents abroad, competing for Somontano Huesca in Spain during the 1994–95 season. He also played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Grand Rapids Mackers, where he earned CBA All-Rookie Team recognition in 1995. Over the subsequent four years, Smith’s professional career spanned the Philippines, Turkey, France, and the CBA. He captured a CBA championship with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 1996 and was named to the All-CBA Second Team in 1997.
During the 1997 NBA season, Smith signed two successive 10-day contracts with the Dallas Mavericks, appearing in eight games and scoring a total of 14 points.
Following his release from prison in 2000, Smith resumed playing professionally in Europe. Between 2001 and 2003, he competed for three French clubs before joining the Israeli League in 2004. He then spent two seasons with Dynamo Moscow in Russia until 2006. His final professional stint was with Legea Scafati in Italy's Serie A during the 2006–07 season.
Post-playing career
After retiring from professional basketball, Stevin Smith assumed the role of Vice President at the N.O.W. Program, a mentoring organization based in Dallas aimed at supporting youth development. Additionally, he conducts educational sessions for NCAA student-athletes on gambling risks through collaborations with EPIC Global Solutions, using his own experiences to advocate for responsible conduct.
In popular culture
Smith appears in a 2021 installment of the Netflix documentary series Bad Sport, which focuses on controversies within the sports world.
References
External links
- NBA career statistics at basketball-reference.com