Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Orlando Smith, a former South Carolina assistant coach, has been selected for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, a testament to a career that spanned playing, assisting and leading programs at the highest levels of college basketball.
Smith’s basketball journey began at High Point, where he played before moving into coaching. He first broke into the collegiate ranks as an assistant under George Felton at the University of South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks compile a 53‑35 record and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament over three seasons.
His reputation grew when he took the helm at the University of Kentucky, where he guided the Wildcats to a national championship and amassed five SEC regular‑season titles, five SEC Tournament crowns and a string of Coach of the Year honors. The Kentucky tenure also saw him bring Felton back onto his staff, linking two generations of coaching expertise.
Beyond Kentucky, Smith’s head‑coaching stops included Tulsa, Georgia, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Memphis and his alma mater High Point, each stint producing NCAA Tournament appearances and conference coach of the year accolades. He also contributed as an assistant at VCU and Kentucky, where he helped develop standout talents such as Terry Dozier, Perry Dozier, Michael Foster and others.
The 2026 Hall of Fame class will also feature Jay Wright, Ted Owens, Danny Ainge, Glen Rice and Walt Hazzard, among others, underscoring the breadth of talent that shaped modern college basketball.