Smith is widely considered a certainty to be a lottery pick and should challenge for the No. 1 overall pick. For the Tigers, the 6-10 former five-star prospect averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 42% from three-point range. Smith also established himself as a capable defender during his lone season of collegiate basketball, which he spent in the Auburn frontcourt with 7-footer Walker Kessler.
For an Auburn squad coming off a 13-14 season in 2020-21, Smith’s outstanding play aided in the program’s turnaround. It was evident early on that the Tigers had a unique talent on their hands when Smith averaged 19.3 points on 40% 3-point shooting in November’s Battle 4 Atlantis games against UConn, Loyola Chicago, and Syracuse. Between late November and early February, the Tigers won 19 consecutive games, and Smith’s strong offensive game helped lead the charge.
During that same period, Auburn also went to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history. Though the Tigers stumbled late in the season, they received the top seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling in the second round to Miami.
Smith stated in a video announcing his choice, “Auburn will always be my home. It is a location that will long be a part of me. The lengthy hours in the gym and weight room have provided me with this opportunity and the possibility to pursue my NBA goal.”
