Smith Signs with Illinois | All-Time Mr. Basketball Winners

When 2017 Illinois Mr. Basketball winner Mark Smith signed with coach Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini on Wednesday he became the 12th Mr. Basketball to play for the state's flagship university since the award began in 1981. 

Smith had a phenomenal senior season to take the state by storm, leading Edwardsville High School to a 30-2 record and IHSA Class 4A super-sectional appearance. He averaged 21.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 2.1 steals for the Tigers. Smith scored in double figures in 30 of 32 games, with eight 30-point performances. He recorded a career-high 45 points in a sectional final win over Ottawa on March 10.

Smith's many accolades garnered this season include Illinois Mr. Basketball, Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, Champaign-News-Gazette Player of the Year, First-Team All-State by the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Champaign News-Gazette and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, Belleville News-Democrat Player of the Year, St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro and Collinsville Holiday Classic MVP.

A former division I college baseball prospect, Smith made a rapid ascent up the national recruiting lists after deciding to focus solely on basketball. The four-star prospect is now ranked No. 52 by Rivals, No. 74 by 247Sports Composite and No. 76 by Scout in the top 100 for the Class of 2017.