NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Top-30 2022 G Nick Smith Jr. releases top 10
By Ian Mumm
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Chris Beard’s strategy to bring in transfer Mac McClung this offseason is certainly paying off on the court this season, but it may have just hindered the team’s outlook in the near future. 5-star freshman and the program’s best recruit in school history, Nimari Burnett, has entered the transfer portal for unspecified reasons and takes away a strong depth piece for the Red Raiders. The move is a bit surprising but emphasizes the need for Texas Tech to continue to land top-end prospects in both the 2021 and 2022 classes to protect from these types of moves.
Smith would be another prized recruit for the program to bring in, but he also has a well-rounded arsenal already to play a potentially bigger role than Burnett was able to carve out with Texas Tech. He is a bit more decisive than the outgoing guard in his shot creation and will have the benefit of a more open rotation when he arrives on campus.
Teaming up with talented Dallas-Ft. Worth players Micah Peavy and Jaylon Tyson could be mutually beneficial for putting forth a strong collective product on the court, but also playing alongside talent that does not hamper each other’s playing styles.
Baylor Bears
The Bears continue to string together dominating performances on the court this season to match their domination off it. In the conversation for the best recruiting class in 2021, Baylor is already looking to piece together the same monster group in 2022. In fact, Smith could become a top-5 recruit in program history and the 2nd best player to join the program in a decade.
The large backcourt depth the program currently has is set to dwindle significantly by the time Smith is set to join the Bears. Aside from 5-star guards Langston Love and Kendall Brown coming to the team in 2021, only Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer look to remain on the roster entering 2022. Given the large emphasis on guard play within Baylor’s scheme, there is a significant opportunity for Smith to join an elite program and further his name on a national level close to home.