A star was born in Ulm's EuroCup opener
Mark Smith outshined Jaleen in the Battle of the Smiths
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 1 of 18
Regular Season
group b
Turk Telekom AnkaraTTA
9396
ratiopharm UlmULM
group b
Overview
l
w
All eyes were on Jaleen Smith heading into the opening night of the BKT EuroCup season. But by the final buzzer, it was another Smith – Mark Smith – who stole the spotlight.
In what many expected to be a statement win for Jaleen Smith and his new-look Turk Telekom Ankara side, coached by 2022-23 EuroCup Coach of the Year Erdem Can, it was ratiopharm Ulm and Mark Smith who flipped the script.
Making his EuroCup debut, the 26-year-old guard was a steady, commanding presence throughout, guiding Ulm to a confident victory. Known for developing young prospects, Ulm has found a more seasoned gem in Smith, who made an immediate impact.
He finished the night with a game-high 23 points, along with 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, a 27 PIR, and a +22 plus/minus – the highest of any player across the four opening-night fixtures. Even when Ulm coach Ty Harrelson tried to manage his minutes, Smith’s influence was too valuable to keep off the court for long.
“He led us from the beginning,” Harrelson told EuroLeague TV. “He showed that we can take a lead and hold on to it. I thought he really had command of the game. It’s unfortunate with the foul situations... a couple of times we were up by 10 and I had to take him out, but we managed to hold on. I thought he was great.”
Smith started modestly, with just 3 points and 3 rebounds in the first quarter, but exploded in the second, pouring in 15 points to reach 18 by halftime. Although foul trouble limited his third-quarter impact, he still added another 5 points and 3 assists before eventually fouling out with 31 seconds to play. Fortunately, teammates Chris Ledlum and Nelson Weidemann held their nerve at the line to seal the win.
“We have a great team,” Smith said postgame. “They help make me better, and I try to make them better – make plays, get us going on offense. That’s all I try to do.”
On a night when Jaleen Smith was expected to shine, it was Mark Smith who delivered an MVP-level performance. If this debut is any indication, Ulm fans have plenty to look forward to with Smith leading the charge this season.