St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Mourns the Passing of James Smyth
11/22/2023 12:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Former St. John’s men’s basketball standout passed away on Nov. 21 at the age of 74
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's basketball program, along with the entire athletic department and university community, mourns the passing of James Smyth at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer.
The former Johnnie played three seasons in Queens under Hall of Fame Head Coach Lou Carnesecca from 1967-70. Smyth averaged 6.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 76 career appearances at St. John's. During his final season in Queens, Smyth recorded career highs, averaging 10.9 points per game while hitting 41.6 percent (133-320 FG) of his attempts from the field and helped St. John's to a runner-up finish in the 1970 National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Following his St. John's career, Smyth also played one year for the U.S. Army Service Team in 1971.
Smyth is survived by his three children, Amy Smyth (George Hudson), Jamie (Oakley) Smyth, and Kelly (Michael) Haag, his six grandchildren, his sisters, Gerri Dempsey and Kathy (John) McNamara, and his companion, Monica Prochaska.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of James Smyth to his high school alma mater, St. John's Prep.
The former Johnnie played three seasons in Queens under Hall of Fame Head Coach Lou Carnesecca from 1967-70. Smyth averaged 6.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 76 career appearances at St. John's. During his final season in Queens, Smyth recorded career highs, averaging 10.9 points per game while hitting 41.6 percent (133-320 FG) of his attempts from the field and helped St. John's to a runner-up finish in the 1970 National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Following his St. John's career, Smyth also played one year for the U.S. Army Service Team in 1971.
Smyth is survived by his three children, Amy Smyth (George Hudson), Jamie (Oakley) Smyth, and Kelly (Michael) Haag, his six grandchildren, his sisters, Gerri Dempsey and Kathy (John) McNamara, and his companion, Monica Prochaska.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of James Smyth to his high school alma mater, St. John's Prep.
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