NBA Draft: 10 must-watch prospects in the 2023 NCAA Tournament
By Tyler Hurst
6. Nick Smith Jr.- Arkansas
Nick Smith Jr. has spent a good chunk of his freshman year at Arkansas sidelined with a knee injury, but since his return, he has shown flashes of the elite prospect he is expected to be.
Watching Smith Jr. will conjure up memories of Jamal Murray at Kentucky and NBA front offices have to be hoping Smith Jr. can make a Murray-like jump at the pro level. He can create his own shot no matter where he is on the court, creating space with a variety of hesitation and step-back moves. While a terrific one-on-one scorer, he has shown glimpses of being a phenomenal passer in the pick-and-roll game as well.
While he tends to handle the ball a lot, he is also a great cutter away from the ball and that has been highlighted heavily this year playing in the same backcourt as Anthony Black. Along with his scoring, he is a high-energy defender who takes pride in locking down opposing guards even if his shooting isn’t always up the par.
Smith Jr. does, however, struggle with consistency on a night-to-night basis. Right now, you could probably chalk that up to not playing a full season. But, his lack of strength and inconsistency is certainly something to watch out for once he enters the league.
You can watch Smith Jr. and the Razorbacks compete against Illinois at 3:30 pm on Thursday, March 16.