NCAA Basketball: Auburn, Vols, LSU, and UNC in play for 5-star F Jabari Smith

Five-star NCAA Basketball prospect Jabari Smith is set to make a decision soon. Which of the six finalists have the best odds?

One of the more quiet NCAA Basketball recruitments this summer has come from Jabari Smith, a consensus five-star NCAA Basketball prospect out of Tyrone, Georgia. According to 247sportsComposite, the forward is ranked No. 5 overall, and depending on how you view traditional positions, is the top-ranked power forward in the 2021 class, ranked even higher than Mike Foster and Caleb Houstan.

At 6’10 and 210 pounds, Smith is a developing frontcourt prospect who can play both positions inside in college but projects to be a power forward at the NBA. He has a great offensive game, playing more faceup to take opponents off the dribble while being comfortable shooting from mid-range and beyond.

Part of his high ranking reflects on the top-tier ceiling Smith possesses. Assuming that his body continues to grow to 6’10-11 and 220 pounds, he’ll have the frame to use his athletic and fundamental advantages to dominate in college. He’s certainly a “one and done” player barring an unforeseen year of struggles on the court, and some thought he might go straight to the G-League.

Things certainly can change for the class of 2021 forward but college can help solidify Smith as a future 1st-round NBA Draft pick and even higher. He’ll have six programs to choose from, which have been the six that have recruited him the hardest throughout the process.

So which of them has the best odds to land Smith? With some recent recruiting moves for some of these programs, there could be one or two that stands out from the rest. Here’s a closer look at the potential fit, including some pros and cons of him joining.