Tanner Smith

Classroom

Smith is a three-time member of the All-ACC Academic Team. He looks to become just the second player in Clemson history to make the team all four years as a senior. He is a two-time member of CoSIDA Academic All-District III Team and boasts a cumulative 3.40 GPA. He earned his undergraduate degree in marketing in December 2011.

Character

Smith earned the 2011 C.J. Spiller Award, given by the student body to a student-athlete in appreciation of their dedication through athletic endeavors, commitment to academics, and exceptional representation of Clemson University to the community, state and country. He won the 2011 Tiger Pride Award, given to player that most embodies the term “student-athlete.” He won the team’s Mr. Effort Award as a sophomore, given to player exhibiting the most hustle. Smith also is a member of Clemson’s Blue Key Honor Society and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  He has won Clemson’s Air Force ROTC Award, given to the athlete that best embodies the values of the Air Force – integrity, service before self, and all-around excellence.  Smith was also presented a special Coaches vs. Cancer Award from the American Cancer Society in 2009.

Community

Smith formed a nonprofit called Tanner’s Totes at the age of 12, which delivers tote bags full of items designed to help preteens and teenagers cope with long term care in hospitals across the country. He first came up with the idea while writing a school paper in the fourth grade. His father was diagnosed with cancer when Tanner was a young child. His dad is cancer-free but suffers from what is known as Graft vs. Host disease. As a result of his charitable efforts, his story has been well-documented by HGTV, ESPN.com, CBS and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The organization received more than $20,000 in donations within one year after the ESPN.com article was published. He will appear on the ABC show “Everyday Health” this fall, which publicizes ordinary human beings doing extraordinary things. He has raised $6,500 for Tanner’s Totes at an ABC fundraiser filming at his high school in Atlanta.

Competition

Smith has played in 110 career games, with 76 starts over the past two seasons. He has scored 789 points in three years for an average of 7.2 points per game. He has 251 assists and 128 steals and has played a total of 2,603 minutes on three consecutive NCAA Tournament teams at Clemson.