VITALS: 6-6, 220, St. Benedict's Prep (NJ) OVERVIEW: Smith spent the last two seasons of his career at St. Benedict's Prep, playing for former Seton Hall point guard Danny Hurley. Smith averaged 23.9 points in his senior season and committed to North Carolina after a great AAU career with the Tim Thomas Playaz program. But Smith performed so well in the McDonald's All-American Game, Roundball Classic and the Hoop Summit that he opted to enter the draft. He showcased a complete perimeter game in both events, knocking down his jump shot consistently while also attacking the basket. A gifted athlete and former football player, Smith has all the tools to play both wing positions in the NBA. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Smith is regarded as a mid-to-late first-round pick. He has not had the best of pre-draft workouts, a circumstance which prevented him from moving into the lottery. But he will still get consideration beginning in the teens. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Harold Minor, DeShawn Stevenson ROLE PROJECTION: Reserve, future starter. POSITIVES: Not many high school players possess Smith's physical maturity. He already has the prototypical NBA body, and when you add to that out-of-this-world athleticism, it is easy to see why Smith is such a promising prospect. On physical talent alone, he has considerable upside. Smith also is a fine shooter who figures to only improve with time. SHORTCOMINGS: Smith may look like a man, but he's still just a kid. He doesn't understand how to play basketball, and that makes him a project and a risky pick. While it's easy to evaluate a player's current physical talent, it's far harder to predict how he will mentally mature. At this point, no one knows for sure whether Smith has simply hit his peak as a player early or whether he's just beginning on his learning curve.
I became in love with his jumpshot during the Mcdonald's game. He was jacking up NBA threes. I dunno if he'll be that consistent in the L though.
