Chris Smith

Draft Notes

Chris Smith is an elite level athlete who is emerging as a talented basketball player. As a senior he’s very young for his class and has shown a nice rate of improvement over the past 3 years.

His calling cards early in his NBA career will be versatile defense, transition offense and hitting the open 3pt shot. If he can do these things at a high level he’ll have a long NBA career.

Smith is also showing the ability to create his own offense and put the ball on the deck. He’s got such a quick first step for a 6-9 player that he’s tough to keep out of the lane.

As a junior Smith raised his 3pt percentage to 34% and his FT percentage to a very respectable 84%. Look for continued improvement in his outside shooting over the next year. This will be the skill that could make him a first round pick.

Comparisons

• Trevor Ariza

Draft Projection

late first to mid second round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft

2021 Small Forwards

1. Scottie Barnes – 6-9 – Florida State
2. Jonathan Kuminga – 6-7 – G League (Congo)
3. Jalen Johnson – 6-9 – Duke
4. Franz Wagner – 6-9 – Michigan (Germany)
5. Corey Kispert – 6-7 – Gonzaga
6. Trey Murphy III – 6-9 – Virginia
7. Vrenz Bleijenbergh – 6-10 – Belgium
8. Ziaire Williams – 6-9 – Stanford
9. Aaron Henry – 6-6 – Michigan State
10. Herb Jones – 6-8 – Alabama
11. Isaiah Livers – 6-7 – Michigan
12. Kessler Edwards – 6-8 – Pepperdine
13. Chris Smith – 6-9 – UCLA
14. Eugene Omoruyi – 6-6 – Oregon
15. Sam Hauser – 6-8 – Virginia
16. Trendon Watford – 6-8 – LSU
17. Derrick Alston Jr. – 6-9 – Boise State
18. Alex Antetokounmpo – 6-7 – USA  
19. Emmitt Mathews Jr. – 6-7 – West Virginia