4. Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas
Many may not know, but Nick Smith Jr. was actually the No. 1 rated prospect heading into college this season. A knee injury to start his career at Arkansas somewhat derailed his rise as a 2023 NBA Draft prospect, but he’s now showing signs of why he could end up being a top 5 pick when he makes the move to the next level.
Smith has only played in nine games this season but has shown flashes of greatness. And the expectation is that he’s only going to get better heading into the month of March. If he’s going to cement himself as a top 5 pick, this is the time when he’s going to do it.
If Arkansas is going to make any noise in the NCAA Tournament, it will likely be due to an outburst from Smith. Any team that is looking for a difference-maker in the backcourt in the 2023 NBA Draft should be taking a closer look at Smith over the next few weeks (especially now that he’s healthy).