The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program and head coach Todd Simon announced the signing of D.J. Smith and Greg Spurgin.
Smith, a 6-foot guard, will be joining the Falcons after playing the last two seasons at Arkansas Little Rock. A native of North Little Rock, Ark., Smith made 51 starts for the Trojans over the last two seasons, averaging 10.4 points per game and 30.2 minutes. As for Spurgin, he's a 6-foot-7 forward who will be joining the Falcons after spending the last two seasons with Westminster, a Division-II school in Salt Lake City, Utah. A native of Queensland, Australia, Spurgin is the brother of fellow BGSU transfer Jason Spurgin who signed with the Falcons earlier this offseason after playing the last three seasons at Southern Utah with Coach Simon.
D.J. Smith
"D.J. is an experienced guard that has had an impact as a double-digit scorer at the Division-I level," said Simon. "He will be great for our culture and as a leader. His speed and quickness will help our uptempo offense."
During the 2022-23 campaign, Smith was one of two players for the Trojans to start all 31 games during the season. Averaging 10.4 points per game, he shot 40 percent from the field and 83.5 percent from the free throw line. Smith tallied double-digit points 16 times over the course of the season with four 20-point games, including a season-high 21 against Southern Illinois. Smith concluded the 2022-23 campaign with 322 points, 87 assists, 80 rebounds and 34 steals.
As for his freshman season in 2021-22, Smith played in 27 games for Arkansas Little Rock, making 20 starts and playing 40 or more minutes in four games. He recorded double figures six times, leading the team in scoring twice. His season-high came against UT Arlington, scoring 27 points while shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from behind the arc. Smith added a double-double against Philander Smith with 13 points and 10 rebounds, going 9-for-10 from the free throw line.
In high school at North Little Rock, Smith was a key member of the 2021 6A state championship team, leading the team in scoring (21.0) and assists (4.0) while adding 4.6 rebounds to his season averages. He was named 6A All-State and All-Tournament while being a two-time 6A All-Conference selection, two-time All-Arkansas second team honoree and a Player of the Year finalist.
Greg Spurgin
"Greg is an up-and-coming stretch forward that fits our spread system," said Simon. "His character and drive is a fit for our program. We are excited for his future and to get to work with him."
Spurgin received a redshirt his freshman season in 2021-22. As a redshirt freshman in 2022-23, he appeared in six games for the Griffins, totaling five points while averaging 2.7 minutes per contest. Spurgin added four rebounds and a steal to his season stat line as well. In high school, he captained the 2020 Toowoomba Grammar School basketball team.
Smith and Spurgin bring the signed player tally to eight for the Falcons this offseason joining guard P.J. Edwards from UCF, center Jason Spurgin from Southern Utah, guard Trey Thomas from Vanderbilt, guard DaJion Humphrey from Garden City CC, guard Da'Shawn Phillip from Maryland Eastern Shore, and guard Marcus Hill from Southern Union State CC.
