Education
Cyprus High School.
basketball coach basketball player
Cyprus High School.
He was a starter on the University of Utah"s 1944 National Collegiate Athletic Association championship team and a professional in the American Basketball League (an early challenger to the National Basketball Association). Smuin came to the Utah Utes from Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah in 1943 at a time where National Collegiate Athletic Association freshman eligibility standards were relaxed to allow schools to field teams while many college-aged men were fighting in World World War World War II Smuin, a forward who honed his defensive stance chasing chickens on his family"s Utah farm, teamed with fellow freshmen Arnie Ferrin, Wat Misaka and Herb Wilkinson to bring Utah its first National Collegiate Athletic Association championship in 1944. After a two-year hitch in the United States Navy, Smuin returned to the University of Utah for the 1946-1947 season, helping the Utes to the 1947 National Invitation Tournament championship.
He finished his career following the conclusion of the 1948-1949 season.
Following his college career, Smuin played one season in the American Basketball League for the Utica Pros, averaging 10.0 points per game. Dick Smuin died September 25, 2001.