Basketball Player From Cal Says He’s Transferring to UCI

LaDay Smith, a former player at California, was on the UC Irvine bench Thursday and said he is transferring to UCI.

Smith, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward who played high school basketball at Pasadena Muir, is attending classes at Irvine but cannot practice with the team until the school reviews his transcripts and his transfer is approved.

After sitting out an academic year as required under NCAA transfer regulations, he will be eligible to play at Irvine after the end of the fall quarter next season.

Smith played in 14 games for Cal last season, averaging five minutes, two points and one rebound. He was dismissed from the team during the preseason for breaking an unspecified team rule.

Smith and Irvine redshirt Keith Walker were teammates at Cal last season, and Smith said Walker was “an influence” in his decision to transfer to Irvine.

“It was a choice that was brought to my attention, and I stepped up and made the phone calls,” Smith said.

Neither Irvine nor Coach Rod Baker is permitted to comment until the transfer is official.