Funeral services set for former Butler basketball star Andrew Smith

NDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (January 12, 2016) – According to wife Samantha Smith, former Butler basketball player Andrew Smith has passed away.


Samantha tweeted that her husband died peacefully in her arms this morning.


Butler University released this statement following the announcement of Andrew’s death:

“The Butler community is profoundly sad today with the news of Andrew’s passing. We saw the way Andrew fought on the basketball court and we saw the way he fought for his health. In both cases, we saw the best of Andrew Smith. But that’s what we always saw from Andrew. He gave his all, all the time. As an Academic All-American, he represented the best of Butler in the classroom and on the court. Above all else, what made Andrew special was the way that he genuinely cared for others. Within his large frame was an even larger heart. He is, was, and always will be a Bulldog. The Butler community is proud to have been part of his life, and our thoughts are with his wife, Samantha; his parents, Debbie and Curt; and the rest of his family.”

Andrew is a former academic All-American who played for Butler between the years 2009-2013. During his four-year career at Butler, he started 103 games and scored 1,147 points for the Bulldogs. He played a big part in helping Butler to a pair of national championship games in 2010 and 2011 along with an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013.

Smith discovered that he had non-Hodgskins Lymphoma while he was playing basketball professionally in Lithuania in 2014. He had been home battling the disease since that time.

Services for Smith are set for Sunday at Traders Point Christian Church at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17. Doors will open at 4 p.m., and Smith’s wife said all are welcome to attend.