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Bridgewater, NJ — Central Connecticut State men's basketball standout Darin Smith, Jr. was recognized by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) on Wednesday with the announcement of its 2026 Division I Men's Basketball All-ECAC Teams and major award winners. The sophomore forward added to his list of accolades from the 2025-26 season by earning a spot on the All-ECAC First Team.

Smith became the seventh Blue Devil — and the second in as many seasons — to walk away with the NEC Player of the Year award earlier this month. As a sophomore, he led the circuit in scoring (20.7 ppg) and free throw percentage (.898). He was named Influxer/NEC Player of the Week six times, while also adding 5.4 rebounds and shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range.

With 29 double-figure scoring games, Smith was among the league's statistical top-15 in seven categories. He netted 20 or more points in a game 18 times and put up the most points in a game for a Blue Devil since Feb. 14, 2013 when he poured in 40 points at New Haven.

His 621 points on the season were the third-most in a single-season in program history.