CLICK HERE for Nick Smith 2022-23 Bio/Stats
2022-23 (Fr.):
PRESEASON HONORS
• John R. Wooden Award Preseason Watch List
• NABC Division I Player of the Year Watch List
• Jerry West Award Watch List
• Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
• All-American: 2nd team (CBSsports.com) - 3rd team (Sporting News) - 4th team (Blue Ribbon Magazine)
• National Newcomer of the Year (Blue Ribbon Magazine)
• National Freshman of the Year (CBSSports.com)
• Jay Bilas Preseason Freshman All-America Team (ESPN.com)
•#1 on ESPN.com national Impact Newcomer list
•#2 on national Impact Freshmen lists by Andy Katz/NCAA.com and CBSsports.com
• SEC Freshman of the Year: CBSsports.com and Blue Ribbon Magazine
• First Team All-SEC: SEC media - SEC coaches - Blue Ribbon Magazine
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
• Only played 17 games (with 14 starts) due to right knee management ... Avereged 12.5 points ... Was 33.8% from 3-point range (24-of-71).
• Named the CBS Sports/USBWA National Freshman of the Week (Dec. 13) and Dick Vitale’s “Diaper Dandy” Star of the Week (Dec. 12)
• TWO TIME SEC Freshman of the Week (co on Dec. 12 and solo on Feb. 27)
• TROY: After missing the first six games due to injury, saw his first official collegiate action (playing on the condition of minutes restriction) ... Checked in at 14:08 and played six full minutes but did not re-enter the game.
• SAN JOSE STATE: In his first meaningful action (and start), scored 16 points (3-of-5 3PT) with five assists and zero turnovers.
• Named SEC co-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (12/12) • CBS/USBWA NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK • DICK VITALE “DIAPER DANDY” STAR OF THE WEEK ... Scored 22 of Arkansas’ 65 points (34%) versus UNC Greensboro, including 16 in the second half in the come-from-behind win ... Was 9-of-11 at the line and led the team with three assists ... Had a steal and old-fashion 3-point play late in the game to propel the Hogs to the win ... Versus Oklahoma, scored 21 points, including 11 in the second half as Arkansas outscored the Sooners 45-38 .... All 11 of his second-half points came in a 26-15 run as the Hogs went from up five to up 14.
• MISS STATE: After missing 13 games, returned to the lineup and played 17:15 with five points and was +3 in the 6-point loss.
• FLORIDA: Had his first double-digit scoring effort in SEC action ... Finished with 10 points, but scored 8 of the Razorbacks’ first 30 ... Added a career-high two steals and was +23 (second-best on the team).
• Named SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (2/27) ... Averaged 25 points and 3.5 rebounds versus Georgia and #2 Alabama ... GEORGIA: Pumped in a career-high 26 (9-of-14 FG / 5-of-8 3PT) ... Had a personal 8-0 run - including back-to-back 3’s - to push Arkansas’ lead from 77-51 to 85-51 with 4:32 left ... at ALABAMA: Led Arkansas with 24 points, adding a career-high six rebounds and tying his career-high with two steals ... Scored 14 in the second half and led a late charge ... Down 12, scored seven in a 20-10 run - including steal and a dunk with 1:45 left and a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to make it a 2-point game.
• KENTUCKY: Led team in points (25), assists (6) and steals (4) ... Made a season-high 10 field goals, with three 3’s.
• vs AUBURN (SEC): Scored 14 points, including a jumper with 20 seconds left to give Arkansas a 74-73 lead.
• vs TEXAS A&M (SEC): Led team in points (16) and assists (4).
• vs UConn (NCAA): Scored 11, making 2-of-3 from 3-point range.
PRIOR TO ARKANSAS
• The top-rated high school prospect by 247Sports and consensus top-3 player in the country
- Top rated combo guard in the nation by 247Sports
- Top rated point guard in the nation by Rivals
- Top rated shooting guard in the nation by ESPN
• Part of the 2022 Razorback signing class that ranked #2 nationally and the top-rated class in school history with six players on the ESPN and SI top 100 lists.
• Member of USA Basketball's 2022 USA Nike Hoop Summit Team
• 2022 USA TODAY National High School Boy's Basketball Player of the Year
• 1 of 5 finalist for the Jersey's Mike's Naismith HS Boys Player of the Year
• McDonald's All-American
• Played in the Jordan Brand Classic and was named co-MVP as he scored 27 points (5-of-7 3PT) with four assists and three rebounds.
• Consensus 1st Team All-American:
- Jersey Mike’s Naismith
- MaxPreps
- Sports Illustrated
• Two-time (2021 and 2022) MaxPreps Arkansas High School Basketball Player of the Year
• 247Sports #1 nation - #1 CG (5-Star)
• Rivals #2 nation - #1 PG (5-Star)
• SI99 All-American #2 nation
• ESPN #3 nation - #1 SG (5-Star)
• 247Composite #3 nation - #2 CG (5-Star)
• 1 of the top 3-highest rated players to ever sign with Arkansas trailing Corliss Williamson (ranked #1 or #2 by all the recruiting services) and Al Jefferson (ranked #3 by 247Sports and #4 by Rivals in 2004).
• #3 in the 2023 NBA Mock Draft (#1 college player) by both ESPN and NBADraftRoom.com
• Consensus #1 player from Arkansas by the recruiting websites
• Two-time Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps (all divisions) Player of the Year (2021 and 2022)
• As a senior, averaged 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists
• Named 6A championship MVP as he led North Little Rock (27-3) to the state title ... Scored 25 points with six rebounds and five assists in the 65-47 win over Bentonville in the final ... Added 24 points and eight assists in the 58-40 semifinals vs LR Central
• In the summer of 2021, led Brad Beal Elite AAU team to a 6-2 record and the finals of Peach Jam while averaging 18.6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game … Scored 31 points (10-of-18 shooting) in the championship game and became the first player since NBA star Michael Porter Jr. to score more than 30 in the finals
• As a junior, averaged 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists
• 2020 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Underclassman of the Year … Averaged 21.3 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals
• Played at Sylvan Hills as a junior and sophomore