Mark Smith cleared to play for Mizzou this season

Former Illinois guard Mark Smith will be eligible to play this season for Missouri.Illinois won't have to wait another season before seeing Mark Smith in action again.

Missouri, the school where the former Illini guard transferred back in April, announced Friday that Smith would receive an NCAA waiver and be granted immediate eligibility for the Tigers' upcoming season. Including this season, he will have three seasons of eligibility at Missouri.

The 2017 Illinois Mr. Basketball winner, Smith made 19 starts in 31 games last season as a freshman for Illinois, scoring in double digits in four of his first five games. But as his production dipped, he lost his starting spot and finished averaging…