THE LIST of Australians excelling in the NCAA continues to grow, with plenty of players catching the eye across a number of schools in season 2022/23.

The next player to put in a number of solid performances is Reyne Smith, with the Ulverstone native thriving with the Charleston Cougars, cementing the guard spot and posting some impressive numbers in the process.

Despite already being 20 years of age, Smith is not eligible for the NBA Draft until 2025, giving him plenty of time to hone his craft and fully develop as a genuine prospect in the coming years.

Reyne Smith

Smith is one of the craftiest guards to come from the land down under, and although he stands just six-foot-two, his scoring ability more than makes up for what he lacks in height.

He is averaging 10.3 points per game, following from last season’s double-digit scoring campaign, where he truly emerged as one of Australia’s strongest guards.

A sharpshooter, Smith has been dubbed a ‘sniper’ for his ability to knock down shots from behind the arc, while also strong enough to produce buckets on the drive. His shooting motion focuses heavily on power through flicking his wrist. Although it may not look the most natural, it seems to work for the 20-year-old, who is shooting nearly 38 per cent from behind the three-point line.

Given he is not the tallest player on the court more often than not, Smith’s ability to be unaffected by the opposition close-out is crucial to his success shooting the ball. Impressively, he has shown a knack for drawing contact on the perimeter, and can even continue to drain the three-point attempt, which is an enticing trait for teams at the top level.

Smith has suffered a bit of inaccuracy in recent weeks, scoring a combined nine points over the last two games with a low percentage from the field. There is a lot to like about his game but streaky performances may deter from any future progress he makes.

One thing Smith also has on his side is international experience, having represented Australia in the FIBA U19 championships, where he was able to put in good performances against the likes of New Zealand and Puerto Rico.

Smith has the capability to become one of the deadliest sharpshooters in the draft in a few years time, and if he can get the inconsistencies out of his game, his averages should reach an even more eye-catching level.