From fishing to dunking: Galin Smith’s transition at Maryland

For Maryland’s Galin Smith, fishing has always been a nice change of pace.

When he played for Alabama, the 6-foot-9 forward spent every spare moment casting a line at his favorite fishing hole — a hobby learned from his grandfather, who regularly took Smith and his brother bass fishing near his hometown of Clinton, Mississippi.

Smith was in the fifth grade when he lost his grandfather, but fishing still helps him cope.

“That’s just something that stayed with me and gives me the peace any time I’m distraught in my mind,” Smith said in November.

Smith transferred to Maryland this offseason, leaving his fishing hole behind for a chance to be an integral part of the Maryland program. His teammates describe him as quiet, and his influence has been understated for much of the season — he’s averaging 4.5 points per game — but there are signs that could be changing.

Early in Sunday’s 72-59 win against Minnesota, Smith showed another side.

After blocking a layup attempt from Jamal Mashburn, he ran the length of the floor, received a feed from Eric Ayala and threw down a two-hand jam with a yell that would’ve spooked any fish into hiding among the reeds.

Since transferring, Smith has been a reliable — if unspectacular — big man on a team that desperately needs size to compete with most Big Ten squads. Smith’s performance against the Golden Gophers gives hope that the senior is hitting his stride with his new team. His standout outing came just in time, with the Terrapins pushing for an NCAA tournament berth in the final month of the season, a chase that continues with games Tuesday and Wednesday against Nebraska.

“He gave us a low-post presence, which we really don’t have,” coach Mark Turgeon said. “He keeps getting better, he keeps getting more comfortable, we keep getting more comfortable with him.”

When first-team All-Big Ten selection Jalen Smith opted to enter the NBA Draft after last season ended, Maryland had a major hole to fill in the frontcourt. Through much of this season, Smith’s departure has been all-too apparent in a conference full of talented big men.

But Turgeon targeted Galin Smith this offseason to be part of the solution. And while the addition hasn’t always led to answers, Smith has battled defensively despite difficult matchups and has grown offensively over the course of the season.

Smith’s ability to harry Kofi Cockburn on Jan. 10, holding the center to five points in the second half, played a large role in Maryland’s upset win over then-No. 12 Illinois.

“He’s a quiet guy, he doesn’t talk too much. But when he does talk, he helps our team,” guard Aaron Wiggins said Jan. 10. “He was great tonight. We appreciate his toughness down there, having to go against someone so big and strong like Kofi.”

Turgeon said Smith played his best game so far at Maryland on Sunday night, scoring 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting in 22 minutes. He added five rebounds and a career-high four assists to his line. Smith’s defense also shined in the win, holding 7-foot center Liam Robbins to two points on 1-for-8 shooting.

With Eric Ayala and Wiggins, Maryland doesn’t generally need high scoring output from Smith. Instead, his continued passing improvement and his strong screens are a must-have on offense.

But slowing down opponents on the defensive end is his main task, and it could be what helps decides if an 11-10 team with six regular season games left can make March Madness. That’s what Smith searched for when deciding on which school to transfer to. He wanted that responsibility, that big role, in his last season of college ball.

His transition hasn’t always been easy, though, not when he’s matched up against some of the top frontcourt players in the country each and every night. And Smith doesn’t have the fishing he commonly did down south, the distraction he needed to quiet his mind.

But he does have teammates and friends — and he could be a major part in Maryland’s hunt for postseason play.

“It’s been an adjustment, but it’s been worth it. I wouldn’t want to have to do it anywhere else,” Smith said Jan. 15. “This group of guys that’s here, from the jump, they took me in, wrapped their arms around me and made sure that I was welcome when it didn’t feel like home.”