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G-R grad Smoldt is NSIC’s top freshman

Joe Smoldt

BURNSVILLE, Minn — Former Gladbrook-Reinbeck star and current Upper Iowa University freshman Joe Smoldt was recently named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Freshman of the Year after a strong first campaign this season.

Smoldt, the seventh-leading scorer in Iowa high school history, started 19 of 22 games this season for the Peacocks, averaging 14.4 points per game. He played over 32 minutes per game in NSIC play and shot 44.7 percent from the floor, 43.9 percent from 3 and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Smoldt also hauled in 3.4 rebounds per contest this season and added nearly two assists per game in becoming Upper Iowa’s first-ever NSIC Freshman of the Year.

“Joe is a special player and was a key contributor to our success this season,” said UIU head coach Brooks McKowen, the all-time leading scorer in Iowa high school history. “He quickly adjusted to the college game and proved to be one of the best shooters in the conference. I am excited for what the future holds for him and I am looking forward to watching him grow as a player over the next three years.”

Smoldt, the 2017 Iowa Mr. Basketball honoree, had a season-high 26 points against St. Cloud State and he topped the 20-point mark three times this year. Smoldt reached double figures in 19 of 22 conference games and ranked first in the conference in 3-pointers made per game, third in 3-point shooting percentage and 20th in scoring.

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