The offers were coming in. Bigger schools with more prominent programs were texting and calling, trying to convince Jeremy Dent-Smith that his basketball future should be with them.

Dent-Smith had just finished a breakout season as a sophomore at CSUDH, racking up honors and leading the Toros to 22 wins and their first NCAA berth since 2011. He’d broken school records and been named an NABC All-American and CCAA Player of the Year.

Coaches and recruiters reached out, offering him opportunities that he wouldn’t get at CSUDH. Perks like bigger arenas and televised games have always been there to lure stand-out athletes at Division II programs to change schools. Now, teams were putting money on the table, too—thanks to recent rule changes that allow college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. (see related story on page 20).

But Dent-Smith remembered that he came to CSUDH for a reason—that his coaches and teammates had offered him respect and support, not self-promotion and attitude. At every step of his journey, he had always been loyal to his teams, rating that sense of family and togetherness more highly than other concerns.

“A lot of different colleges had a lot to offer. 
It got a little overwhelming at times,” Dent-Smith said. “I’m so thankful for the opportunity that those schools offered me. But I really wanted to run it back with my guys one more time.” He decided to stay at CSUDH despite all the enticements.

The Toros’ bitter loss in the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament was a motivating factor, too. Dent-Smith didn’t just return to CSUDH: he came back with a mission. “I didn’t like the taste we were left with from last year.”

Dent-Smith grew up in Hawthorne, just up the freeway from CSUDH. The only child of a single mother, he was surrounded by family, and sports were a constant in his life from a young age. “Basketball, football, baseball … My mom just wanted to keep us busy,” says Dent-Smith.

He credits his cousin Justin Dent with helping build his bond with basketball. “He’s three years older than me, so I would always watch him play. Sometimes, they would let me jump in and play with the older kids. I think that’s where I really developed my love of the game.”

When Dent-Smith arrived at Serra High School, he wanted to play football, but his family wasn’t having it, fearing he’d get injured. Instead, he turned his attention to basketball, where coaches quickly recognized his talent. He became a starter on the varsity team as a freshman.

“Jeremy was a great kid,” says Bernard McCrumby, then-head coach at Serra High. “He was an extremely hard worker and has always been really humble.”

As a star high school athlete, Dent-Smith’s loyalty was tested often. McCrumby recalled that “lots of schools” tried to entice the player away from Serra. But Dent-Smith and his family stayed. “They recognized what we were building on and off the court, and really remained loyal to that,” McCrumby said.

It paid off for Serra High. Dent-Smith helped lead Serra to the CIF quarterfinals. He was a first-team All-CIF selection, averaging 18 points per game.

Coming out of high school, Dent-Smith was already very familiar with CSUDH. His cousin Kenadi Mitchell played on the volleyball team, and Dent-Smith was a regular at her games. “I remember once when I was in ninth grade, I was playing in a tournament at DH and she was running around telling all the coaches, ‘That’s my little cousin, He’s really good!’ Ever since then, I think they were kind of watching me.”

When it was time to choose a university, Dent-Smith put community first in his decision-making process. CSUDH head coach Steve Becker had been tracking Dent-Smith’s success at Serra since his freshman year, which stood out to the player.

“Coach Beck was one of the first coaches that reached out to me,” says Dent-Smith. “So I kept that in mind. CSUDH was the one who jumpstarted my recruitment and made me comfortable in that field. I took that into account.”

Dent-Smith appreciated the confidence that the CSUDH coaching staff had in him, and the way current players opened their arms to him during his campus visit. “They had faith in my game, and I wanted to go somewhere where I felt I could grow.”

His freshman year at DH was often frustrating, as he struggled to find playing time ahead of upperclassmen. A COVID outbreak during the season’s final weeks provided Dent-Smith with an opportunity to show what he could do—and he leapt at the chance.

With the team down to five or six healthy players at times, Dent-Smith found himself in the starting lineup through the end of the season. “At that point, I knew Coach couldn’t take me out,” Dent-Smith laughs. “So that’s where I built up that confidence. I found my groove and just never really looked back.”

“You have to really appreciate how special Jeremy is. He was incredibly committed to us and finishing what he started. Ultimately, he knows that we care about him and we want what’s best for him.”

— Coach Steve Becker

He spent the next summer working on taking his game to the next level. Dent-Smith was invited to play in a Rico Hines Run at UCLA, where he challenged himself against Division I and NBA pros. “Coming into my sophomore year, I felt confident. Nobody really knew what to expect from me, which was a good thing. I felt like all the work that I put in during the summer was going to show.”

Coach Becker certainly noticed the difference in Dent-Smith when he showed up for his second year. “I knew he was going to be our guy and was going to play a ton. I thought he would be our leading scorer, but I didn’t anticipate him having quite the year that he had.”

When his great success last season got Dent-Smith noticed by other programs, he wasn’t going to ignore the opportunities. He entered the NCAA transfer portal to gauge their interest—and his. But in the end, Dent-Smith decided to stay at CSUDH.

“Money is really important. But first and foremost, where can I go and be comfortable?” he says. “A school might be able to pay me X amount of money, but I could have a terrible time there or not play and it’s not going to set me up for anything long term.”

One of the main factors driving his decision was Dent-Smith’s ultimate goal of playing in the NBA. “For me, it’s all about getting better,” he says. “I want to be in a place where I can develop my game the most. I feel like by staying here, I’ve been able to do that. If I can have another good season, then I can put my name in a lot of different conversations.”

Dent-Smith not only excels on the court, he’s an accomplished student who is set to graduate from CSUDH in May—just three years after starting his college journey. “One of the big reasons I stayed was because I wanted to graduate from CSUDH. I’ll still have one year of eligibility left, so I can play while I pursue a master’s.”

Dent-Smith’s decision to stay at CSUDH proved to be the right one. He led the team in scoring and assists while helping guide the Toros to the national championship game for the first time in school history, averaging 26.3 points per game in the Elite Eight.

“You have to really appreciate how special Jeremy is,” says Becker. “He was incredibly committed to us and finishing what he started. Ultimately, he knows that we care about him and want what’s best for him.”

“I think the sky’s the limit for him. He needs to continue to stay healthy and get better and develop. But I think Jeremy will have a lot of options for himself, and he’s earned them.”

As McCrumby says, “Hard work is undefeated, and Jeremy proves that.”

Money is really important. But first and foremost, where can I go and be comfortable? A school might be able to pay me 
X amount of money, but I could have a terrible time there or not play, and it’s not going to set me up for anything long term.”

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