Smith was a 6'2, 166 lb guard that avged 13.5 ppg in JUCO the season before coming to MU from Seminole JC in Oklahoma. He was recruited to MU as a backup and primarily as a defensive specialist. MU was a dismal 12-14 the season before he came to MU, finishing tied for last in conference. We hadn't won a conference title in 35 years.
Norm Stewart gave the following scouting report on Smith prior to his varsity debut, “He won't always come through with super scoring nights, but he can handle the fast break and play both ends of the floor equally well.”
It wasn't until our starting shooting guard Steve Dangos quit the team that Willie was thrust into the spotlight. His breakout game was against #11 OU, a school which failed to offer the in-state Smith a recruiting visit, and Willie scored 37 point in a double overtime win. Smith would avg 22.4 ppg and 5.4 rebounds, as well as being named first team All Big 8 and the first Tiger ever to be named the Big 8's Conference Newcomer of the Year.
Here is some footage of him as a player:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz1FO7ImIFQ