ORLANDO, Fla.  - It's been a long road to this point for UCF men's basketball forward Collin Smith.

• Won 4A title with The Bolles School
• Sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules
• Averaging 7.7 points per game for UCF

“I think i just feel the love coming from everybody," Smith said about his team. "They always just want you to succeed. So having that behind your back just makes you want to play even harder out there.”

The 6-foot-11 Smith is averaging 7.7 points per game in his first season in black and gold. His teammates have already taken to the redshirt sophomore as a source of enthusiasm.

“You can just tell, Collin is one of the happiest persons you will see," senior Tacko Fall said. "He’s kind of like a kid, you can tell just by his demeanor that he’s very happy.”

But his road to CFE Arena wasn't so direct. Smith was a Class 4A champion at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, and committed to play at George Washington. But after one season, he decided to transfer, which meant he'd have to sit out a year before playing for UCF.

“It was pretty hard just watching everyone play," Smith said. "We dropped a couple games last year that makes me feel like I could have done something to help out.”

With the time on the sidelines though, Smith found opportunity.

“On the positive side, I got my shots up. Got a lot better. Worked on my handle, worked on some post moves. And I feel like I improved a lot over that year,” he said.

The time off allowed him to become more versatile on the floor, which has served benefit for UCF. Combined with Fall and Chad Brown, the Knights are deep in the key, and Smith has the ability to play outside as well.

“He has a huge upside," head coach Johnny Dawkins said. "Just a versatile big guy, can play multiple positions for us, he can score in the low post. He’s a capable shooter on the perimeter.”

Fall also acknowledged Smith's commitment to improving his overall game. 

“He moves not like a big at all," Fall said. "He moves like a guard. So there have been a lot of ways we’ve been using him defensively and offensively, and that’s worked out pretty well for him so far."

Now that he's found his role on the court as well, he's relishing his opportunity in Orlando. And he's happy to be there for his teammates.

 “[I like] just being that guy that you can come to at any time. That guy you can relate to," he said. "And who knows what you may be going through or that you may need help with something, I'm just that guy, you know?”