5 things to know about the No. 1 NBA Draft prospect, Jabari Smith Jr.
Jabari Smith Jr. is just 19 years old, but his future looks bright as the NBA’s No. 1 draft prospect and potential new rising star.
Jabari Smith Jr. is the name on everyone’s lips as we look ahead to the 2022 NBA Draft. He spent just one season playing for Auburn, but that’s all it took for the NBA to notice him. In February 2022, he recorded a season-high 31 points against Vanderbilt. He averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and two assists per game with a field goal percentage of 42.9 and 3-point percentage of 42. At just 19 years old, he looks to be a rising star in the NBA. If he indeed goes first overall, he will join the Orlando Magic, who need a shooter like Smith. So, who is he? Here’s five things you should know about Jabari Smith.
1. He was the No. 6 recruit in ESPN’s top 100 class in 2021
He had offers from Ole Miss, North Carolina, LSU, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Florida State, and Auburn. When he finally chose Auburn, their coach Bruce Pearl said he was the best player he ever coached. Smith led the Tigers to an SEC Championship and won the consensus All-American.
2. He’s versatile
Standing at 6′10″, Smith can play with great speed and agility and knows how to get the ball up the court. He’s also one of the best 3-point shooters in the 2022 Draft as well as an extremely skilled rebounder.
3. More on his skills as a rebounder
At Auburn, Smith recorded 15 rebounds when the Tigers played Miami in the NCAA tournament. He had nine total games with double digit rebounds and averaged 7.4 on the season.
4. He’s an elite shooter
Smith shot 42% from long range on 5.5 attempts per game and made several threes in 25 out of 34 games at Auburn. His career-high 31 points against Vanderbilt led them to the win in February. He was the SEC’s fourth-leading scorer. His shooting abilities will serve him well at the professional level.
5. He comes from a family of basketball players
Smith is a Jr. to his father, Jabari Smith Sr., who played with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Sacramento Kings over four years’ time and played abroad in Spain, Turkey, Iran, and Puerto Rico. He also had a cousin in the NBA, Kwame Brown, who went No. 1 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft and played 13 seasons in the league.
