Rutgers lands NEC Player of the Year Darin Smith in transfer portal
The Scarlet Knights add a sharpshooter to the lineup.
DARIN SMITH JR. (5) of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils possesses the ball during an NCAA men's basketball game at Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange, United States, on December 3, 2025 (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images). | NurPhoto via Getty Images Rutgers has added the Northeast Conference Player of the Year once again.
Central Connecticut State transfer Darin Smith has transferred to Rutgers, according to multiple reports. Smith was on campus on Wednesday and quickly made his decision to commit to the Scarlet Knights. This marks the second time in three years that Rutgers landed the NEC Player of the Year.
Jordan Derkack won the award while at Merrimack in 2023-24. Smith comes to Rutgers with two years of eligibility remaining. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Smith was a major cog in CCSU’s upset win over Rutgers.
He finished with 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting with five rebounds. Last season, Smith averaged 20. 7 points and 5.