2023 NBA Draft Profile

Overview
Nick Smith spent his lone collegiate season at Arkansas, where he appeared in 17 games (14 starts) and helped lead the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16. A knee injury plagued Smith throughout his freshman season, causing him to miss 19 games in total, including the entire month of January. In his first collegiate start on Dec. 3 against San Jose State, Smith posted 16 points and five assists in just 24 minutes of action. Later in the season, he went for a season-high 26 points in a win over Georgia, knocking down five 3-pointers. In the Razorbacks’ regular-season finale, Smith poured in 25 points to go with six assists and four steals against Kentucky. Coming out of high school, Smith was widely considered one of the top recruits in the nation. The Jacksonville, AR native was a consensus five-star recruit and was selected to both the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Analysis
A natural scorer with excellent athleticism and length, Smith has a quick first step and a tight handle that allows him to work around defenders and create his own shot. Mechanics-wise, his jump shot looks elite, though he shot only 33.8% from deep in a relatively limited sample (4.2 3PA/G) at Arkansas. Smith’s burst and shiftiness off the dribble may be his most useful trait at the next level, where he projects as a two-guard who can also play on the ball. Smith’s athleticism and long wingspan (6-foot-8) should enable him to be a decent defender at the next level, but he may need to add some weight.

Projection
Even after an abbreviated season at Arkansas, Smith firmly projects as a lottery pick and carries immense upside, offensively. While he likely won’t step directly into a major role, Smith should make an impact as a rookie and has the talent to develop into a borderline star down the road – particularly if he progresses as a playmaker to complement his scoring. Smith’s game shows shades of Jamal Crawford, Malik Monk and Jordan Poole.

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— Profile by RotoWire