Charles Smith (2018) - Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame

Charles Smith

Induction:
2018
Class:
1988

Charles Smith established himself as one of the most gifted—and prolific—big men in Pitt basketball history. From 1984-88, he scored 2,045 points and remains, three decades later, the Panthers' all-time leading scorer. Smith was equally impactful on the defensive end and is Pitt's career blocks leader with 346. He signaled his arrival on the collegiate level by earning the Big East Rookie of the Year honor in 1985. Smith would conclude his career by being named the 1988 Big East Player of the Year and a first team All-American. His time at Pitt coincided with the program's reemergence on the national scene. He led the Panthers to a Big East co-championship in 1987 and then an outright title in 1988. Pitt was a fixture in the Top 25 over those two seasons, earning lofty seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Smith was a member of the 1988 Olympic basketball team that captured a bronze medal in Seoul. He also played on the 1986 United States team that brought home the World Championship gold medal. Smith was the third overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft and spent 10 seasons in the league. Smith's No. 32 Pitt jersey is retired.