June 10, 2008
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University men’s basketball coach Jim Zeleznak announced on Tuesday the signing of San Antonio native Marlon Smith to a national letter of intent to join the Rattlers, starting with the 2008-09 academic year. Smith is the seventh signee for the Rattlers this offseason.
Smith (Fr., San Antonio) is a 6’6″, forward, who comes to the Rattlers after a strong high school career at Karen Wagner High School. He was a two-sport athlete at Wagner, lettering in both basketball and football for coach Cliffton Ellis. He earned all-district honors twice and was named all-area, all-region and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) all-state as a senior after averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks per game. He was also named District 26-5A Most Valuable Player for his play. He helped lead WHS to the district championship and the regional championship game as a senior. On the gridiron he was an all-district selection.
“Marlon is a talented, athletic player whose best basketball is all ahead of him as he has split his time between football and basketball,” Zeleznak said. “He is long and mobile and should compete for playing time immediately.”
St. Mary’s finished the 2007-08 season with a 17-13 record and won the Heartland Conference Tournament title. They fell to Tarleton State University in the first round of the NCAA South Central Region Tournament.