Zhaire Smith's stock surprises me ...

[surly]

https://www.si.com/nba/nba-mock-draft-2018

22. San Antonio Spurs SPURS: ZHAIRE SMITH, SG, TEXAS TECH | FR.
Height: 6'5" | Weight: 195 | Age: 18 | Last: N/A
Stats: 11.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 55.6% FG

After arriving at Texas Tech as an unheralded recruit, Smith’s emergence was quite the surprise, and averaging more than a block and a steal per game as a true freshman for a quality team was no small feat. The platform of the Red Raiders’ Elite 8 run certainly helped Smith from an NBA perspective, and his impressive quick-twitch athleticism and overall instincts give him a decent base. He can’t create much, if any, of his own offense right now, which adds a level of risk. But he’ll have a chance at the first round based on potential if he comes out. The Spurs would be able to get the most out of him.

 

[NetflixAndClone]

I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed in the draft. I’ve heard he was a borderline 1 rounder since the tournament. The kid is clearly talented if you watched him play.

 

[CloneGuy8]

I said this a few weeks ago. If the NBA is based off of athleticism and potential, then this kid is a first rounder.

 

[surly]

56% field goal percentage sticks out to say nothing about his overall athleticism. Damn shame for TxT if he leaves though.

 

[HFCS]

I think we may need to bump our preeminent KU troll's posts that Texas Tech is a superior basketball program to ISU (because of exactly one season) this time next year.

 

[Frak]

56% field goal percentage sticks out to say nothing about his overall athleticism. Damn shame for TxT if he leaves though.

Bad for them, good for us.

 

[surly]

I think we may need to bump our preeminent KU troll's posts that Texas Tech is a superior basketball program to ISU (because of exactly one season) this time next year.

He ranked basketball programs? I missed it. Dang.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

TTU already loses a couple of high-impact seniors (Evans, the other Smith). Losing Zhaire will relegate them to the bubble at best next season, no?

 

[heitclone]

Gerald Green 2.0, it'll be a few years before he's anything but a dunk contest spot filler. He's got NBA athleticism but nowhere near NBA skills yet. Offensively, he can really only dunk, thats how he shot 56% from the field.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I said this a few weeks ago. If the NBA is based off of athleticism and potential, then this kid is a first rounder.[/QUOTE

That's a good point. It certainly never occurred to me that he would already be a 1st rounder based on his ability to produce next year in the NBA but long-term, he screams the P-word.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Insane athlete worth the pick in the late first imo.

 

[cmjh10]

He seems like a perfect Spurs pick

 

[LLCoolCY]

Insane athlete worth the pick in the late first imo.

The NBA is all about projection. The scouts see flashes of what Smith can do and the potential if he becomes consistent. Training with a pro staff and not with the restrictions of the NCAA hours/school may give him the best chance to reach the potential. For TT and the Big 12 sake I would like to see Zhaire come back but I think it would be in his best interest to jump assuming he's a 1st rounder.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

Gerald Green 2.0, it'll be a few years before he's anything but a dunk contest spot filler. He's got NBA athleticism but nowhere near NBA skills yet. Offensively, he can really only dunk, thats how he shot 56% from the field.

He also shot 45% from 3. Granted it was only 40 attempts but a guy that can play D and shoot is very valuable in the NBA.

 

[Doc]

He also shot 45% from 3. Granted it was only 40 attempts but a guy that can play D and shoot is very valuable in the NBA.

Yeah, not many attempts, but he's also a solid FT shooter and I think NBA scouts look at that as a sign that he'll be able to develop more range with decent accuracy.

His top 3 statistical comps (based on each's freshman numbers) are Otto Porter, Jeremy Lamb, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. So that looks promising.

 

[Cyclonepride]

TTU already loses a couple of high-impact seniors (Evans, the other Smith). Losing Zhaire will relegate them to the bubble at best next season, no?

And three more seniors that had some impact too. I think they’ll be very happy if they can get in the bubble conversation.

 

[3GenClone]

K-States Iwundu’s draft projections (and then being picked at #33) last year were far more surprising to me than seeing where Smith is projected this year.

 

[Doc]

K-States Iwundu’s draft projections (and then being picked at #33) last year were far more surprising to me than seeing where Smith is projected this year.

Yeah, I think what Iwundu had that Smith doesn't is a little playmaking ability, but that very well may come with time for Smith.

 

[rochclone]

Gerald Green 2.0, it'll be a few years before he's anything but a dunk contest spot filler. He's got NBA athleticism but nowhere near NBA skills yet. Offensively, he can really only dunk, thats how he shot 56% from the field.

18-40 from 3 pt range, 5 rbs a game and 3:2 ast/to ratio. Much more than dunking to this kids offensive game.

 

[randomfan44]

56% field goal percentage sticks out to say nothing about his overall athleticism. Damn shame for TxT if he leaves though.

Lebron James shot 41.7% his rookie season. You can teach guys to shoot better; you can't teach natural athleticism.