Bryce Drew and Valparaiso have landed a commitment from the son of former Indiana Pacers center Rik Smits.
“I’m excited to say I’ve found my future home,” Derrik Smits tweeted on Monday. “For the next four years I will be attending Valparaiso University.”
The younger Smits is a seven-footer -- still four inches shorters than Pops! -- that plays for Zionsville HS (Indiana) and on the AAU circuit with Grassroots Indiana. He’s ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals and, according to the Indianapolis Star, he picked the Crusaders over Ball State, Indiana State, UTEP and Clemson, among others.
Smits had spent the weekend on campus for his official visit.
The elder Smits was known as ‘The Dunkin’ Dutchman’. He was the No. 2 pick in the 1988 NBA Draft out of Marist, averaging 14.8 points and 6.1 boards during his 12-year career with the Pacers. He made the 1998 all-star team.
Valpo went 18-16 and 9-7 in the Horizon League in 2013-2014.