May 30, 2007

Tyler Smith, a transfer from the University of Iowa, has been admitted to the University of Tennessee where he will join the Volunteers' basketball team. Smith will begin taking summer school classes at UT on Monday, June 4.

"I am really excited about Tyler Smith coming back to Tennessee," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Our program and Tyler's situations have changed and it is clear to me that this has a chance to work out for Tyler and the University of Tennessee. I would be remiss if I did not publicly acknowledge the University of Iowa's support for Tyler and his family. Coach Todd Lickliter came into a tough situation and has allowed Tyler the opportunity to come home to be close to his family."

A 6-foot-7 forward from Pulaski, Tenn., Smith led the Hawkeyes with 4.9 rebounds and 45 steals while ranking second on the team with 14.9 points and 111 assists as a freshman in 2006-07. Following the season he earned third team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the league's coaches and media and was a third team freshman All-America selection by collegehoops.net.

"It feels great to get everything situated," Smith said. "It has been kind of crazy since I announced I was leaving Iowa. It is great to be back home. To be able to hop in a car on a weekend to visit my father and my family is important to me. Anytime my family needs me I am only a couple of hours away. It is a feeling of excitement to be back home."

Smith is expected to file an appeal for a hardship waiver of the NCAA's transfer rule that would require him to sit out the 2007-08 season.