Former Husker men’s basketball great Andre Smith has died at the age of 64. The Chicago native was a three-year starter for Joe Cipriano and Moe Iba, helping the Huskers to three Big Eight Conference runner-up finishes in his career.
Smith was a two-time first-team All-Big Eight selection. The 6-foot-7 forward was named the 1981 Big Eight Player of the Year. He averaged 18.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He led the conference in scoring in conference play at 19.5 points per game, while his .589 field goal percentage topped the Big Eight.
Smith and Venson Hamilton in 1998 are the only two conference players of the year in program history while Smith also earned AP Honorable-Mention All-America honors in 1981. As a junior, Smith was a first-team All-Big Eight honoree and AP Honorable-Mention All-American, averaging 19.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in leading the Huskers to an 18-13 record and an NIT appearance.
Smith was inducted into the Nebraska basketball Hall of Fame in 1994.
(Photo: Nebraska Communications )