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Texas Tech basketball: The top 25 Red Raiders in the Big 12 era

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates the play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates the play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Mar 23, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Zach Smith (11) dunks and scores against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half in the semifinals of the East regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Zach Smith (11) dunks and scores against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half in the semifinals of the East regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 23: Zach Smith

We continue our run of athletic forwards by looking at the career of one of the most athletic forwards to have ever played for Texas Tech, regardless of the era.   From 2014-15 to 2017-18, Plano’s Zach Smith was a fan-favorite due to his high-flying ways which resulted in some of the greatest highlight-reel dunks and most demoralizing rejections in program history.

Averaging 8.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for his career, Smith twice averaged double digits in points (his sophomore and junior seasons).  But unfortunately, a broken foot caused him to miss half of his senior year and it prevented him from breaking a significant program record.

https://twitter.com/TexasTechMBB/status/941132229543018496?s=20

With 158 career blocks, Smith is second in Red Raider history, finishing four behind Tony Battie.  So it is safe to assume that had he not been sidelined for over two months of his senior year, Smith would have owned that record.

One record he does own though is blocks in Big 12 play.  With 78, Smith has 13 more blocks in Big 12 play than any other Red Raider in program history.

Smith must also be remembered for being a critical part of a recruiting class that turned the fortunes of Texas Tech basketball.  Along with Norense Odiase, Justin Gray, and Keenan Evans, he was a member of the 2014 signing class, one that would get Tech to a pair of NCAA Tournaments including the 2018 run to the Elite Eight.

Along the way, that group helped bring fans back to Texas Tech basketball as they brought the Red Raiders out of the dark ages of the early 2010s.  And due to his above the rim heroics, Zach Smith was one of the most recognizable and beloved members of that era of Tech hoops.

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