Prospect Profile - Zhaire Smith

Texas Tech has been surprisingly good this year after an injury to senior Zach Smith. The primary reason for their resilience is slightly recruited freshman Zhaire Smith. Though Zhaire Smith was not a top 200 recruit coming into the season a display of his athleticism led to offers from Texas, Oregon, Memphis, Arkansas and a few others. Smith chose Texas Tech and has enjoyed a breakout season asserting himself into the national consciousness. Scouts and fans alike are awed by Smith's athleticism and feel for the game in such a young and mostly unknown prospect. The halo around Smith's success has led to first round draft grades and even some mentions of him going in the lottery. Smith is still an unknown quantity for a prospect and may not even apply for the draft this year. If he does, I'm sure he'll end up going in the first round.

Smith's primary attribute is his athleticism. This includes both quickness and vertical ability, wrapped up in a good frame for a two guard. Smith's highlight reel is filled with absurd dunks and blocks. The quickness with which Smith loads and rises is unparalleled among the guards in this class. His game film is replete with exceptional putbacks and slashes leading to rim-rattling dunks. Smith's next level jumping ability and quickness has not put the ball in his hands very much though. Smith has an 18% usage rate, which is unbelievably low for a player with his talent. Or, it might be just right for a player of his talent it's hard to tell without seeing him operate more with the ball in his hands. In Smith's very limited sample he shoots the three alright and assists at an average rate for how often he actually has a chance to initiate offense. He also has a stepback,wherein, his shooting stroke looks good, but his body control is odd. It's not as if he's off balance, rather, he just doesn't square to the rim or kicks out a leg. Smith needs work on the offensive end, lots of work. Smith's ceiling as a scorer is clearly very high, but can he reach it?

Smith's defense, on the other hand, is already showing NBA promise. Smith can easily slide between the two and three and he has played some four for the Raiders. His on ball defense utilizes his quickness and wingspan and when he gets beat he stays in the play with excellent recovery and the constant threat of blocking shots. His team defense is also very good he rotates for blocks and stays hard with his man. He is often given the toughest assignment for Texas Tech and does an able job matching both quickness and strength off ball. Smith's athleticism and basketball IQ project him into a plus defender eventually in the NBA.

Smith's has a few odd quirks to his game as well. He rebounds the ball on the offensive end at an exceptional rate. His offensive rebounding almost matches his defensive number. With a profile that includes offensive rebounding, a good steal rate, and an exceptional block rate, Smith's unique skillset should have success in the NBA. Smith's main weakness is that he is simply still a largely unknown quantity. Smith is one the youngest players in the class, from a largely unheralded high school background and he hasn't been tasked with much on the offensive end at Texas Tech. It is possible that he will never be able to shoot on the move or create for others. If so, he'll end up as a potential defensive specialist and energy guy off the bench. If, on the other hand, he continues to develop at a rapid pace on offense and he keeps bringing it on defense he has as high of a ceiling as anyone in the draft class. And a high ceiling is much easier to reach when you can jump like Smith can. I think Smith will end up being picked in the mid-first round and will have a few highlights, but not much playing time in his rookie year. I think he has the capability and work ethic to perform as an elite role player in the NBA over a long career. His best fit in the top ten would be the Hawks. His worst fit would be the Suns.

Offensive Role - Off-ball cutter

Defensive Role - Switchable wing

Comp - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

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