Big 12 Basketball: Who is the 2017-18 star player on each team in the conference?

Texas Tech Red Raiders: Zach Smith

12.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 40 3P% (19 makes)

Zach Smith is one of the most underrated players in the whole country. The 6’8″ senior possesses the highly-coveted floor spacing and shot-blocking skill set which makes him such an interesting prospect. Smith is a pick-and-pop threat, but he is also capable of taking opposing big men off the dribble.

Smith is slightly undersized at 6’8″ but makes up for it with his top-notch athleticism. This athleticism is useful defensively but also makes him a lob threat on offense. Smith has almost every skill you would want in a pick-and-roll finisher which makes him an extremely valuable weapon for point guard Keenan Evans.

Tommy Hamilton will pair with Smith in the frontcourt and the two big men should thrive playing together. Smith is extremely lanky and athletic while Hamilton is more of a big body and below-the-rim player. Hamilton can guard bigger players with his 6’11″ 260-pound body and Smith can guard the quicker players meaning they cover each other’s weaknesses quite well. Both players are very skilled and can shoot from the perimeter, which will make the Texas Tech offense extremely potent.

While Texas Tech missed the tournament last season, they could easily find themselves included in the field of 68 this season. The Red Raiders are loaded with talented seniors, like Smith, which should help them fix their issues in close games. Hopefully, an improved team performance will get Zach Smith on the national radar since he is a very intriguing prospect and a fun player to watch.