If you want to win an NCAA title you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The McDonald’s All-American Game has been canceled during each of the past 2 years due to COVID but hopefully the 3rd time is indeed the charm to see everyone back on the court in Chicago on March 29th. The rosters were announced on January 25th after selecting the 24 best high school basketball players in the nation from a list of almost 800 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact this fall just ask Coach Bruce Pearl how he likes having 2021 honoree Jabari Smith at Auburn! Duke seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Jon Scheyer will inherit a trio of 2022 honorees to join him in Durham next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Nick Smith Jr. about being named a McDonald’s All-American and his future school’s huge upset win last night.
Last summer you scored 31 PTS/10-18 FG for the Brad Beal Elite AAU team in a 3-PT loss to Team Final in the Peach Jam finals: how close did you come to winning it all, and how do you feel about facing your AAU teammate Brandon Miller in the SEC next year when he is at Alabama? We had a very good team and I would not be where I am today without them. It will be emotional to face Brandon because we are best friends but when we get on the court we will both try to win.
You played at Sylvan Hills for your 1st 3 years of high school: why did you switch to North Little Rock for your senior year, and how has it worked out so far? My family made a decision to move districts so I had no choice. It is working out well so far (his team is currently 19-3).
What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? It has not been that hard: you just have to continue to work on your game so that you are prepared when you get to the next level.
You received offers from several great schools including Alabama/Auburn/Kansas but committed to Arkansas last September: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how excited were you to watch them upset Auburn last night? Coach Musselman: he has a great program. I knew that it would be a dogfight yesterday: it was a big game for both the school as well as the whole state. They just have to keep it rolling with home games against Tennessee/Kentucky coming up later this month.
Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It is a great honor because there are only so many guys who get that opportunity. I feel like I am doing something right but being a McDonald’s All-American it is not my ultimate goal so I will keep working.
Your teammate Kel’el Ware was also named a McDonald’s All-American: how did you guys lose any games this season with so much talent on the court, and did he really turn down a $900,000 contract from Overtime Elite to attend Oregon next year?! I am not sure what he turned down so you will have to ask him yourself. We have had a successful year but it is hard to maintain our focus on winning a state title with all the attention that we have received.
You are part of 1 of the best recruiting classes in the nation thanks to the Razorbacks bringing in another McDonald’s All-American next year in Jordan Walsh: how well do you know him, and what makes him such a good player? He is a versatile guy who can play any position and is a great defender. We both are dogs and we talk to each other a lot on the phone: it will be fun to play with him.
You are 6’4”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? Right now I am a combo guard and it will be the same in college.
Last month Draft Express named you the top NBA prospect in the Class of 2022: what would it mean to you to eventually get drafted by an NBA team? Those are just mock drafts so it does not mean anything right now. I will just keep working hard to try to reach the NBA eventually.
There was a viral video last October of you destroying some fraternity guys in a pick-up game in Fayetteville (www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhB3WRhTuoc): are you going to give them a rematch this fall? No: I am cool on that!