| COACH BURTON: "Zakee Smith has done a great job out there.
He’s really tried to step up and be a leader. I think it’s been fun for Zakee
to finally get into a running situation. I’m looking forward to Zakee having
a great year for us."
Zakee (pronounced ZACK-ee) Smith was an
ironman performer for the Titans at point guard last year while dealing with
a style of play not conducive to his skills... Heralded for his ability to
run the fast break and push the tempo, Zakee was forced to become a half-court
floor general as the depleted Titans played methodical offense to run down
the shot clock... Still, he led the Big West Conference in assists.
CSF IN 2002-03: Played in 28 of the team's 29 games and started
25 times... He led the conference with 4.7 assists per game... Challenged the
school single-game assists record with 17 vs. Pepperdine on Dec. 4... His total
was the fourth-best single-game mark, putting him in a league with All-American
Leon Wood, who had totals of 21 (twice), 18 and 17 in the early 1980s... The
next best total by a Big West player during the season was 12... Smith also
reached double figures with 10 assists at UCSB on Jan. 4... Averaged 4.2 points
per game despite shooting only 44 percent from the foul line... Scored in double
figures three times including 11 points vs. Pepperdine and 11 points vs. UCSB
on Mar. 6.
PANOLA JUNIOR COLLEGE: Averaged better than 14 assists and
less than 3 turnovers in 2001-02 for Panola College in Carthage, Texas... Led
the nation in assists with 407 including a season high of 27 in one game (vs.
Angelina College on Nov. 28)... By comparison, the Titans had 329 assists as
a TEAM in 2001-02 and only 339 last year... Zakee shattered all Region 14 Athletic
Conference assist records... Averaged 13 points for the Ponies with a high
of 26 (vs. Mountain View on Nov. 24).
FRANKLIN LEARNING CENTER: Played three years at the Franklin
Learning Center for Coach Pete Merlino and the Bobcats... All-city first-team
selection... Tied for player of the year honors in the Public League... The
magnet high school is located a block from Broad Street within a mile's radius
of Temple University and Ralphy Holmes' alma mater of William Penn High.
PERSONAL: Born on June 23, 1980, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
Parents are Zakee Muhammad and Patty Smith... Has a brother, Zaahir... Communications
major... Most memorable sports thrill was hitting a half-court buzzer beater
when he was 10 years old... Has played AAU ball with teammate Ralphy Holmes
since he was 8 years old... Credits his father, "Big Zack," Daryl Schofield
and David Anwar for giving him the motivation to continue playing when he was
ready to quit... Nickname is "The Truth." | 
