The new Overtime Elite basketball league is a way for high school players to make a living off their image, name and likeness. (3:23).
Tyler Smith is the No. 8 basketball prospect in ESPN's Class of 2023. Tyler Smith, the No. 8 basketball prospect in ESPN’s Class of 2023 has signed with Overtime Elite. He spoke to ESPN on Sunday.
Smith stated, "This is new and different." Smith said, "I wanted to become a professional already, working on things that NBA players do." You can't train as hard in high school as you can at OTE.
Smith is the seventh five star recruit to sign with the league's upstart league. Smith is considered to be one of the top long-term prospects in his class and has received scholarship offers from schools like Kansas, Baylor Texas, Florida State Oklahoma, Memphis, LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma and Texas.
Smith stated that Smith's goal was not to go to college. It's to be a part of the NBA. This will help me get there quicker and prepare me for when I'm there. They've been in touch with me for over three months. They have told me that they have NBA facilities and trainers.
Smith, who turns 17 in November, will not be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2024. However, current rules do not allow Smith to enter the 2023 draft if he can graduate high school one year earlier than expected. Smith said that he signed a two year, seven figure contract with OTE and will "see from there." Smith stated that he will be represented by Chris Gaston, Family First Sports' agent.
Smith was born in New Orleans and moved with his family to Houston after Hurricane Katrina. After a stellar showing at John Lucas camp, Smith was recognized as a top prospect and received his first scholarship offer by the Houston Cougars at age 14. He attended Fort Bend Bush High School in Richmond, Texas for his first two years.
Smith, who stands 6'9" and has a typical frame, the explosiveness to play above and around the rim, and the intriguing versatility and skill operating at the perimeter, had a coming out party with Adidas outfit Southern Assault. He was there alongside fellow five-star prospects Keyonte Georg and Yohan Traore.
Smith is the 16th player who has signed with Overtime Elite. This brings it to two-thirds of its goal of 24 players in the inaugural season.
OTE has seen significant progress since its March inception. Its goal is to be a credible alternative route for international and elite high school students and their potential exposure. OTE was able to sign five-star recruits Jazian Gortman and Amen Thompson, Ausar Thomson, Matt Bewley, Ryan Bewley, Ryan Thompson and Matt Thompson thanks to substantial financial backing. OTE also secured a projected top-20 pick in the 2022 draft in Dominican guard Jean Montero.
A number of European 16-year olds have also been signed, including Alexandre Sarr from France and Izan Almansa, from Spain. Nathan Missia Dio from Belgium, Tudor Somacescu, from Romania, and Nathan Missia Dio from Belgium.
OTE announced that it will continue to recruit another half-dozen players before its teams arrive in Atlanta in September to start training and playing against prep schools, academies and international teams. OTE's 24 members will be divided into three teams, and they will also compete against each other.
