Tanner Smith basketball

Tanner James Smith (born March 30, 1990) is a former American professional basketball player who now serves as an assistant coach for Appalachian State. He played professionally in Europe, including stints with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany and Landstede Basketball in the Netherlands. Smith was a guard on Clemson University's men's basketball team, where he started three seasons and earned several awards, such as the 2011 C.J. Spiller Award and four appearances on the All-ACC Academic Team.

Before college, Smith played high school basketball at Wesleyan School in Norcross, Georgia, and was recruited by multiple universities, including Clemson, where he chose to attend due to its location and conference. In his professional career, Smith also coached, starting as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State before moving to roles with the Charlotte 49ers and Appalachian State.

Smith is also known for founding Tanner's Totes, a non-profit organization that delivers large tote bags filled with toys and recreational items to children and teenagers with cancer in hospitals across 25 U.S. states. The organization has delivered over 3,000 totes, and Smith was recognized by media outlets like ESPN and ABC for his efforts.