Jan. 29, 2008

CHICAGO - Former Loyola University Chicago men's basketball player and 2005 graduate Anthony Smith passed away Monday evening after a courageous bout with leukemia. He was 24 years old and a day shy of his 25th birthday.

"We are all shocked and saddened by Anthony's passing, " Loyola head coach Jim Whitesell said. "This is really a sad day for the staff, our program and Loyola University. Anthony brought a lot of smiles to our program and campus and he truly loved Loyola. He was a great teammate and was always there to give someone a pat on the back, a high-five or provide encouragement. He will be missed."

Smith appeared in 102 games, earning the starting nod on 21 occasions, in his four-year Loyola career. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest in his career and enjoyed his finest season as a senior in 2004-05 when he contributed 5.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 28 appearances. Smith went for a career-best 18 points and matched a career high with eight rebounds in a game versus Butler on Jan. 13, 2005. After scoring in double figures twice in his first three seasons, Smith tallied 10 or more points on four occasions during his senior campaign and he capped his career at the Gentile Center by registering nine points and five boards in a victory over Green Bay on Senior Day.

A graduate of Kirkwood High School, Smith was one of the more highly regarded prospects in the St. Louis, Mo., area as a senior, as he put up 17.1 ppg and 6.8 rpg.

Following his playing career at Loyola, Smith was a rehab services aide at Evanston Hospital. Smith's twin brother, Antoine, also was a four-year letterwinner for the Ramblers from 2002-05. A visitation will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3 at Austin Layne Mortuary in St. Louis, while a funeral service will take place Monday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. at New Northside Baptist Church in St. Louis.