Smallwood also represented the United States in the 1963 Pan American Games where the team won the gold medal.

A 6'4 power forward known for his jump shooting and rebounding prowess, Smallwood would prove to be a significant player for the Purple Aces.

[1] In his first varsity season in 1957–58, Smallwood led the team to the College Division Final Four for the first time in program history.

Once in Brazil, Smallwood's eligibility was questioned, but resolved once the Hawks confirmed that he had not been paid to play basketball.

The team went 6–0 to win the gold medal with Smallwood's best game coming in the second round against Canada, where he scored 14 points.