Post by Matt on Aug 27, 2010 21:37:47 GMT -5
Age- 17
Height- 6'9
Weight- 220
Position- SF/PF
Former Team- Oak Hill
Strength's
Think Darius Miles with a jump shot. That's the rep Smith has and why most scouts claim he'll be a top-10 selection if he comes out. Before you get too excited (Miles went No. 3), the comparison evokes both the good and the bad. Smith is a top-notch athlete and has guard skills for his size. He jumps out of the gym and can run all day. Unlike Miles, he's a pretty proficient shooter.
Weakness
He's rail thin, and scouts wonder how he'll handle the rigors of the NBA. He sometimes shrinks in the paint and isn't the rebounder scouts think he should be for his size. He relies on his athleticism too much at times and still is learning the game. He doesn't have any real go-to moves and sometimes hesitates to take his man off the dribble. His ball-handling needs improvement if he's going to make the transition to the three in the pros.
Scout's Take
A teammate of Dwight Howard and Randolph Morris on the AAU Atlanta Celtics. Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith, who has coached Jerry Stackhouse, Ron Mercer and Carmelo Anthony, said Smith is the best athlete he has had at Oak Hill. "There's not any scout I've talked to who doesn't think he's a lottery pick or that he's coming out,'' Steve Smith said. "They're all saying he's top five, a high lottery pick. Seventh or eighth is the worst I've heard and most are saying he'll go between three and five.'
teams have questioned his work ethic and his hustle. The tools are all there, but is the head. He's one of the toughest guys in the draft to project. Could go as high as No. 6 or could slip all the way to No. 17.
Ratings
C+ C- C C+ C+ A
