By Marty Gordon
Murray State’s DaQuan Smith has announced plans to transfer to Radford University as a graduate student transfer this coming year. Smith joins former Murray State assistant Shane Nichols who came to Radford as a coach under his brother Darris Nichols.
The 6-1 guard shot 81 percent from the free throw line this past season and 33 percent from behind the arc. He saw action in all 25 games with eight starts and had two double-figure scoring games as Murray State was 31-3, losing in the NCAA second round.
The previous year, Smith made 45 3-pointers and was second on the team with 110 assists. The Holly Springs native led his high school to the 3A state championship game as a senior, scoring 30 or more points in nine games including a career-high of 50 points in a regular season contest. Smith was a four-time Mississippi all-state selection.
Shane Nichols left Murray State after six years where he was a part of the greatest period in program history that includes three-straight Ohio Valley Conference regular season championships (2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20) and two OVC Tournament titles (2017-18, 2018-19). He also helped recruit Smith to play at the school.
Radford head men’s basketball coach Darris Nichols has also announced the addition of junior college transfer Justin Archer from Florida Southwestern State College.
“Justin is a rough and rugged, throwback type forward,” said Nichols. “He comes from a great family and is a good person on and off the court. He will be a valued member of our team, university and community.”
In his lone season with Florida Southwestern, Archer appeared in 17 games, starting six. He averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Archer’s career-best outing came in a November contest against Victory Rock Prep in which he poured in 27 points on 13 of 14 shooting from the field. He also pulled down six rebounds.
Prior to Florida Southwestern College, Archer played a year at Vincennes University, earning NJCAA All-American honors with 11.5 and 5.8 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures 15 times during that 2020-21 season.
Coming from North Brunswick, N.J., Archer played prep ball at Trinity Pawling where he was a four-year letter winner.
