These days, the senior forward is more under control and a bit more diverse, sartorially and athletically.
One thing Maryland fans have noticed in the team's first two games this season is Smith's ability to take -- and make -- the three-point shot. After attempting five last season (making two), he's made two of three this season.
"Last year, I really didn't have to shoot outside," Smith said earlier this week. "We had Walt [Williams] and Matt [Roe], and we didn't need another gun. We needed something else, and I gave us something else. This year, we need someone besides Walt to shoot outside."
You want points? Smith scored 18 to lead the Terps in their 83-53, opening-night victory over Mount St. Mary's, then had 20 in a 115-60 victory Tuesday night over Maryland-Eastern Shore. He is second on the team behind Williams.
You want rebounds? Smith led Maryland with nine against the Hawks, giving him 14 for the season, one behind junior center Evers Burns. How about defense? Smith has seven steals, one behind Williams.
You want leadership? Though Williams and senior forward Vince Broadnax were selected as team captains, Smith is certainly someone the Maryland players look up to, as much for what he does off the court as for what he does on it.
"That's great," said Williams. "A lot of people had the wrong impression of Garfield because of the problems he had in high school [he went to three schools]. Then there's the stigma of being a junior college player. If you had to pick a kid who was going to give you some trouble, it was Garfield. But he hasn't been trouble at all."
Except maybe for the competition