Def Pen
  • News
    • World
    • US
    • Politics
  • Music
    • News
    • Hip Hop
    • R&B
    • Pop
    • First To The Aux
  • Sports
    • Basketball
      • NBA
      • WNBA
      • NCAAB
      • EuroLeague
      • High School
    • Football
      • NFL
      • XFL
      • NCAAF
    • Baseball
      • MLB
    • MMA
    • Boxing
    • FIFA
    • Sports Betting
    • Track & Field
  • Fashion
  • Business
  • Movies
    • Trailers
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Women
    • Spotlight On Empowerment
  • Shop
Def Pen
  • News
    • World
    • US
    • Politics
  • Music
    • News
    • Hip Hop
    • R&B
    • Pop
    • First To The Aux
  • Sports
    • Basketball
      • NBA
      • WNBA
      • NCAAB
      • EuroLeague
      • High School
    • Football
      • NFL
      • XFL
      • NCAAF
    • Baseball
      • MLB
    • MMA
    • Boxing
    • FIFA
    • Sports Betting
    • Track & Field
  • Fashion
  • Business
  • Movies
    • Trailers
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Women
    • Spotlight On Empowerment
  • Shop
  • Basketball
  • NBA
  • NCAAB
  • Sports

2023 NBA Draft Profile: Nick Smith Jr

  • May 26, 2023
  • Dylan Hargis
Nick Smith Jr
Nick Smith Jr ( Phantom Designs for Def Pen Sports )

The debate over who is the best player in the second tier of the 2023 NBA Draft has been widely discussed for some time. While at one point, Nick Smith Jr was considered in tier one, he has slipped some after his sole season in college basketball with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Several factors outside of his control led to the slip and despite still being a probable lottery pick, Smith Jr could end up being the steal of the 2023 NBA Draft. His skill set has plenty of NBA upside, but there are some important things to note when talking about the NBA guard prospect.

Physicals

Nick Smith Jr is an ideal size to be an NBA player and just looks like one when playing on the court. One could say he passes the eye test from a physical standpoint after one season of college basketball. Smith Jr is listed at 6’5″ and 185 pounds which is tall enough but he will need to bulk up some when he gets to an NBA weight room. While his height is good for the NBA it is his wingspan that really pops off the page when looking at his measurables. Smith Jr has had his wingspan measured around 6’9″ which is very good for a 6’5″ guard coming into the league. Pairing these numbers with Smith’s top-level speed makes him a tantalizing prospect for NBA teams picking between five and ten. Smith is incredibly quick with and without the ball in his hands and could be one of the quicker prospects in the draft.

Scoring

Nick Smith Jr could grow into a prototype go-to scoring guard one day in the NBA. He has all the tools in his kit but will need to put them all together. In his limited time on the court for the Arkansas Razorbacks, he showed flashes of being able to score on all three levels with or without the ball in his hand. While he is very good with the ball in his hands at his best, he does need to work on making better decisions at times. As a freshman with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Nick Smith Jr averaged 12.5 points per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 37.6 percent and a three-point percentage of 33.8 percent. Scoring is critical in the NBA and at this point, it is hard to be a lottery prospect without being a good scorer or showcasing your potential there. Smith Jr. certainly has the potential but will need some polish once he makes the NBA. The combo guard can learn to score with some of the best guards in the NBA one day.

Potential

With Nick Smith Jr the discussion can almost be boiled down to one single word, and that is potential. While he missed significant time in college, when he was at his best, Smith Jr showed exactly why he was the number one overall recruit coming out of high school in the 2022 class. There was a time early in college when he was viewed as the best prospect coming out of college for the 2023 NBA Draft. With his size, wingspan, and speed paired with his ability to score, Smith Jr could be exactly what a rebuilding team with young talent needs to complete their roster for the future. “One and done” guards enter the NBA every year and their success rate really depends on the work they put in and the situation they land in when they are drafted. The Arkansas guard will need to land in the right spot with a coaching staff that can maximize his potential at the next level.

Weaknesses

Overall Nick Smith Jr was injured for most of the college basketball season and getting an overall read on him has been difficult. The freshman guard did not finish well at all in college and saw a major drop-off around the rim from high school. He was actually one of the worst guards when finishing around the rim in all of college basketball. Smith Jr also did not showcase as a good defender this season and at times looked downright bad on that end of the court. He seemed to lack engagement on defense and got lost sometimes when playing defense. It is impossible to say how much of this were the injuries, how much was a skill issue, and how much was just him failing to engage with the defensive scheme. Both are things he can clean up in the NBA but are major concerns when talking about his basketball future.

NBA Comparison: CJ McCollum

CJ McCollum
New Orleans Pelicans Guard CJ McCollum ( Michael Reaves – Getty Images )

Nick Smith Jr and CJ McCollum are both scoring-minded guards that have the ability to take the ball up the court and play some point guard for their teams. While both have some clear deficiencies in some areas, scoring the basketball makes up for a lot in the NBA. The Arkansas Razorbacks freshman will need to further develop as a passer for this comparison to work in the NBA. He certainly has the skill but needs something to click when he gets to the NBA. His draft spot will be vital this year and he needs the right coaching staff to maximize who he can be in the NBA. His rookie season could be a “down” year but don’t give up on hm after one year in the league.

Related Topics
  • 2023 NBA Draft
  • Arkansas Razorbacks
  • Nick Smith Jr
Dylan Hargis

You May Also Like
View Article
  • Football
  • NFL
  • Sports

Cleveland Browns Select Shedeur Sanders With 144th Pick

  • Ryan Shepard
  • April 26, 2025
View Article
  • Boxing
  • Sports

Keyshawn Davis To Defend WBO Title In June At Scope Arena

  • Ryan Shepard
  • April 26, 2025
View Article
  • Boxing
  • Sports

Manny Pacquiao To Evaluate Boxing Future Following Election

  • Ryan Shepard
  • April 26, 2025
View Article
  • Boxing
  • Sports

Raymond Muratalla Hoping For Potential Unification Bout With Keyshawn Davis

  • Ryan Shepard
  • April 26, 2025
View Article
  • Boxing
  • Sports

Shakur Stevenson Lands Promotional Deal With Lou DiBella

  • Ryan Shepard
  • April 22, 2025
View Article
  • Basketball
  • Sports
  • WNBA

Post-Surgery, Diamond DeShields Looks to the Future

  • Def Pen Sports
  • April 21, 2025
View Article
  • Boxing
  • Sports

The 13th Round: The Biggest Night In Women’s Boxing (And A Side Of Imagery Reminiscent Of The Jim Crow Era)

  • Ryan Shepard
  • April 17, 2025
View Article
  • Boxing
  • Sports

Live From Ringside: Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Battle For Lineal Welterweight Title

  • Ryan Shepard
  • April 12, 2025

©Copyright 2024 DefPen.com. All rights reserved.

Def Pen is a registered trademark. DefPen.com is part of the Def Pen Media Group, LLC.

  • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Shop

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT