UNIVERSITY CENTER -- The SVSU Men's Basketball program has welcomed a pair of additions to the team as mid-year transfers. Delano Smith and Chris Oseitutu join the Cardinals this semester in advance of being able to compete in the 2019-20 season.
Smith is a transfer from fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member Davenport University while Oseitutu comes to Saginaw Valley from Eastern Wyoming College.
Delano Smith joins the Cardinals after playing one and a half seasons at Davenport University, which is also a member of the GLIAC. Smith averaged 13.25 ppg in his time for the Panthers, starting in 30 of the 38 games he played in. He averaged 2.6 rebounds and racked-up 62 assists with 41 steals.
Delano Smith on joining the program
"SVSU was the best choice for me because the coaches made it a point to talk how they were focused on more than just the best basketball player you can be. They also want you to be the best man you can be. Talking with them, you can tell they cared about more than just basketball. They told me from the start that there was no option but to graduate, and that really stood out to me and my parents. It was also obvious that the team all loved being around each other and really cared about one another."
Head Coach Randy Baruth on the signing of Smith
"We are excited to add Delano to our young, but talented group of student-athletes. He has proven that he can really play in this league, and with his size and length at the guard position, he will be a versatile piece on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He is also someone that comes from a great family, and we really like to add people like that to our Cardinal basketball family."
Chris Oseitutu comes to Saginaw Valley From Eastern Wyoming College, where he played his sophomore season after playing his first at McHenry County Community College in Illinois. At McHenry, he averaged 15.4 ppg and was named a second team all-conference selection. At Eastern Wyoming, he averaged 11.5 ppg.
Chris Oseitutu on joining the program
"Saginaw Valley has a great campus environment and I felt really at home with how friendly everyone was. It's also close to home with me being from Chicago. I really gravitated towards Coach Baruth's philosophies and feel like I can really grow as a basketball player and as a person here at SVSU."
Head Coach Randy Baruth on the signing of Oseitutu
"Chris will be a great fit to our current group of guys. He is someone that has great experience, both on and off the court. He has a great work ethic and is highly motivated to get back on path to getting his Bachelor's degree and get back to playing on the hardwood."