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Arkansas Basketball: Analyzing grad transfer commits for 2020-21 season

By Drew Schmelzer

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 30: Mascot of the Arkansas Razorbacks waves the flag before a game against the Northern Kentucky Norse at Bud Walton Arena on November 30, 2019 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 30: Mascot of the Arkansas Razorbacks waves the flag before a game against the Northern Kentucky Norse at Bud Walton Arena on November 30, 2019 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 23: Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 23: Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Justin Smith – Indiana

In three seasons in Bloomington, Smith was good, but not great. The two-year starter for the Hoosiers did increase his scoring and rebounding numbers each of his three seasons, but the 6’7 forward’s field goal percentage got worse every season and he never shot better than 67 percent at the free throw line and was the third most frequent foul shooter on the team. The Razorbacks got to the line a lot in 19-20 (shot the third most free throws in the country) and given Smith’s athleticism and ability to get to the rim you can expect him to have a lot of opportunities to take foul shots in 2020-21, so he’s going to have to shore that up.

Smith is extremely talented and Mussleman will be able to do wonders with his potential that just never seemed to fit perfectly in Archie Miller’s system at IU. Where he will really help is on the glass. The Razorbacks were undersized, and mainly due to that were the worst rebounding team in the SEC last season, so a guy with the athleticism and size of Smith is a great fit especially because he can also play on the outside. Smith averaged more than five rebounds per game a season ago and there is no one remaining from last season in Fayetteville who averaged more than three boards, besides Isaiah Joe.

The thing you worry about with Smith is how he fits in the locker room. He wants to be the star of the team and he caught flak at times from Hoosier media for not being all in and a drainer on the culture. This Arkansas roster is going to have a lot of talent. If he is willing to accept his role as more than a role player, but not the guy who is going to have the ball in his hands at the end of a game he can be a major benefit in a run at an NCAA Tournament.

Because of the lack of depth in the frontcourt and the advantage of experience that Smith (10.4 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 0.9 Ast) holds over some of the other guys on this roster, he is going to start at the 4 in his final season of college ball with the Razorbacks. I see him putting up a similar clip to his 10 pts he averaged last year in Indiana, but those rebounding numbers should go up as their will still be a lot to go around.

Justin Smith 2020-21 Prediction: Starting Power Forward – 11.4 pts, 7.2 reb, 1.3 ast in 32 minutes per game

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