A MONTH ago, there was no doubt that Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr. was in the top five NBA Draft prospects for 2023, but interest surrounding a recent injury has added intrigue to the exciting prospect.

Although there are bigger names on the draft board, the combo guard has excited scouts with his size and athleticism when suiting up for the Razorbacks in the NCAA over the past 12 months. He can carry the offence on his own and is quite tough to stop when going downhill.

However, 10 minutes prior to a game just before Christmas, the team announced that he was out indefinitely with a knee injury, and in the last week, he was ruled out for the remainder of January. Despite these concerns, Smith Jr.’s talent and potential should still see him in the top 10 selections of the upcoming draft.

Nick Smith Jr.

TEAM: Arkansas Razorbacks
POSITION: Guard
DOB: 18/04/2004
HEIGHT: 6ft 5in
WEIGHT: 185lbs

Smith Jr. grew up in Jacksonville, and garnered plenty of interest when suiting up for North Little Rock High School, where he led the team to a 26-3 record in his senior year, quickly establishing himself as one of the brightest young guards in the nation.

A consensus five-star recruit, Smith Jr. received offers from many schools around the country, as the likes of Georgetown, Kansas and North Carolina all tried to acquire the services of the lengthy guard, but it was the Arkansas Razorbacks that won the race for his signature.

At six-foot-five, he offers plenty of height given he can play both guard positions. At the one, he would prove a tough matchup given his length and frame. Although he can still add muscle, Smith Jr. has broad shoulders and the frame of a bulky guard who can body up the opposition when given a mismatch. He also boasts an impressive six-foot-nine wingspan, which separates him from many of his contemporary guards in this class.

A smooth operator, Smith Jr. is one of the best scorers in the 2023 NBA Draft class, given how deep his bag is. Capable of scoring at all three levels, the combo guard is one of the best offensive prospects on the board. Any side that is looking for a potential number one option sooner rather than later should look no further than Smith Jr., given he is already averaging 12.8 points per game for the

However, the knee injury may prove a factor in where he is selected, with not much released surrounding the specifics of it all. He will be rehabilitating for the remainder of January, so all eyes will be on the Razorbacks in February to see how much the incident has hindered his performance.

Regardless of the recent setback, Smith Jr. is arguably the most talented scorer in the draft class, and should still hear his name read out quite early on draft night.