Smith began his career playing high school basketball at Wauwatosa East High School. He then played basketball at the collegiate level for  Marquette University from 1986 to 1990. During his time at Marquette he set the schools all time record for points per game, 23.8  which he achieved during the 1989-90 season.
Smith started his career playing high school basketball at Wauwatosa East High School. He then played college basketball from 1986 to 1990 at Marquette University, where he established the school's all-time scoring average record of 23.8 points per game during the 1989-90 season.