The college basketball game will be held in auburn, Alabama. This photo was taken by Vasha Hunt.
The Associated Press.
It would have been hard to argue that anyone would challenge Duke's Paolo Banchero or the other top NBA prospect in the upcoming college basketball season. When we arrive at draft night, we should not have to wait more than 20 minutes to hear the names of both players. One player that has stood head and shoulders above the rest is the freshman forward from the auburn tigers, Jabari Smith.
Bruce Pearl has sent several pro prospects to the association, including J.T. Thor, who is now a member of the association. None of the other players in the 2020 NBA Draft had as much upside as Smith.
The 18-year-old is playing for the Tigers and is currently averaging 16.9 points, 7.1 rebound, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Smith is shooting from the floor, deep, and charity stripe at a rate of 46.3%, 43.9%, and 82.9%, respectively. One of the main things that helps him stand out as an NBA prospect is his shooting ability, which is why those last two numbers are absurd for a player his size.
Smith has some of the cleanest mechanics you will see in a player with his length, and he should be able to stretch the floor at the next level. The best shooter of the bunch is the auburn forward. A lot of that is due to the fact that Holmgren doesn't miss around the basket. He is a world-class finisher this year, and he feasts on easy looks because of the offense he is playing in. Smith is the best shot maker of the three prospects, and it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up shooting 40% from deep at some point in his pro career. It shouldn't take more than 10 seconds to see that he has a smooth release on his free throws. Smith is a pick-and-pop threat.
The 18-year-old is special in more ways than one. Smith is better with the ball in his hands than he should be. In just eight games this season, the freshman has shown that he will eventually be a legitimate grab-and-go threat. Smith is capable of getting himself up the floor, even if he doesn't have perfect handles, because he knows how to pull up threes before the defense sets itself. It is jaw-dropping whenever Smith does that a few times this year. The big man is an under-valued player who will find his teammates for easy buckets if he pushes the pace off the rebound.
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Smith gets himself to the basket a lot. The 18-year-old has the ability to take bigger players off the dribble with ease, and he doesn't waste any movement when attacking the rim. Smith is not as strong as he will need to be in the NBA, and that is a significant knock on Holmgren. That is a place where Banchero stands out. Smith will eventually get to a point where contact doesn't bother him. It is important to focus on how smooth he is at getting to the cup. He has had a few effortless baseline drives that will have you jumping out of your seat. Smith is good at drawing fouls. He attempted eight free throws in a game against the Warhawks, and he shot 12 free throws in a game against the Huskies. That will be an asset at the next level.
Smith and Jaren Jackson Jr. are very similar in their body types and love to shoot the three-ball. Smith looks a little more comfortable off the bounce than Jackson, and he is a better mover. Smith is different from both Banchero and Holmgren in this draft class.
Smith is one of the best shot-blocking prospects to come out in the last 10 years, but the big man at Gonzaga won't have the same ability. Although he leaves a lot to be desired as a shot blocker, he is absolutely incredible when switched onto the perimeter. Smith will make it so that opposing teams won't be able to hunt switches on him, and that could plague both teams at times. Smith is allowing.182 points per possession in isolation situations. He's in the 99th percentile in college basketball.
Smith has a combination of length and athletic ability that makes him a good stealper, which is one of the reasons he is averaging 1.8 steals per game this season. He will make it difficult for opposing guards to dribble around the paint, and he will jump passing lanes at the next level. He has good instincts on that end of the floor, and that makes it hard to worry about his rim protection right now. Smith should be able to get better in that area, and it might help for him to play more minutes as a small-ball center, something he will undoubtedly do more of in the NBA. Walker Kessler is the true big man for auburn and he is averaging 3.4 blocks per game. Smith could be a weak-side helper if more minutes at the five were added.
There is a lot to love about both of them. Smith is the most appealing player if you throw out the pre-season rankings. Smith has some flaws, with his indecisiveness with the ball in his hands being one of them. Smith sometimes falls in love with his jab step, but he settles for jumpers that are worse than his initial looks. The 18-year-old has the most exciting combination of shooting and ball handling that we have seen in a player of his size in quite some time. It is hard to imagine him not being the guy in this draft that you want to build your franchise around. Smith cares more about winning than any other player. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and has a real passion for the game.
Smith is the prototype of what NBA teams are looking for as we get deeper and deeper into an era where length andVersatility are emphasized, and he should make his next organization very happy.
