Smith a Candidate for Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award

Nov. 4, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson guard Tanner Smith was announced as one of 30 candidates for the 2011-12 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for men’s basketball on Friday. A national media committee will narrow the list to 10 finalists in late January. Fan balloting will then be coupled with votes from coaches and media members to determine the recipient of the award.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as a senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

Smith is one of four candidates from the Atlantic Coast Conference, joining Malcolm Grant of Miami, Bernard James of Florida State, and Tyler Zeller of North Carolina.

The 6-foot-5 native of Alpharetta, GA has scored 640 points and added 192 assists and 107 steals in his career. He is a two-year starter and veteran of 96 career games. Smith has helped Clemson to the NCAA Tournament each of his three seasons with the school.

In the classroom, he has been a three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection as a marketing major. He will earn his undergraduate degree in December. In the community, Smith is well-known as the founder of Tanner’s Totes, a non-profit organization that helps teens and preteens cope with long-term care in hospitals across the country. His organization was recently profiled on the ABC show “Everyday Health.”

The complete list of candidates can be found on the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award home page – http://www.seniorclassaward.com/.