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North Carolina State Basketball: Dennis Smith Jr. records triple-double versus VT

By Carmine Carcieri

Jan 4, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) reacts after a basket during the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack won 104-78. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) reacts after a basket during the second half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack won 104-78. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dennis Smith Jr. recorded the second triple-double in North Carolina State basketball history on Wednesday evening.

North Carolina State freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr. was already in the same class as Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox, Washington’s Markelle Fultz and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball as the top freshman point guards in college basketball.

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He is expected to be a lottery pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and has been dynamic this season despite coming off a torn ACL.

And then on Wednesday night against Virginia Tech, Smith did something that only one other player (Julius Hodge in 2002) in North Carolina State program history has done.

He recorded a triple-double: 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds.

In addition to his scoring, rebounding and assist totals, Smith shot 9-of-16 from the field, got to the free throw line 15 times and snagged five steals. Oh and don’t forget, the point guard led North Carolina State to a monster win over No. 21 Virginia Tech, one game after getting demolished by the Miami Hurricanes.

The Wolfpack have one of the highest ceilings in the ACC, especially when Smith is playing this good. The Fayetteville, NC native has scored 20+ points in three of his last five games, and in one of the games he didn’t top 20 points, Smith put up 19 points and dished out an absurd 16 assists.

That’s outstanding production for a player that has been overshadowed by Fultz’s play at Washington, Fox’s dominance at Kentucky and Ball’s success in Westwood.

On the season, Smith is averaging 19.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds per game, 2.1 steals and 3.1 turnovers per game. He is shooting 47 percent from the field overall, 39 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the free throw line.

Smith has regained his explosiveness and operates smoothly in pick-and-roll situations, which helps open the floor for his teammates.

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Next up, Smith has an opportunity to shine and help lead NC State to another quality win against North Carolina and ACC Player of the Year candidate Joel Berry II. Berry and Smith will go head-to-head on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET in Chapel Hill.

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