NBA Draft 2022: Live evaluations from middle part of 2021-22 CBB season

A break from school allowed me to travel around the Midwest and see a ton of games in person over the last month or so. This stretch coincided with a brutal run of Covid-19 canceling games, so I missed the chance to see teams like Gonzaga, USC, UCLA, and UW-Milwaukee. But, I still made it out to a handful of games including Auburn @ Saint Louis, Iowa @ Wisconsin, and Michigan @ Illinois.

Here are my live evaluations of the 2022 NBA Draft prospects in those games.

Jabari Smith Jr. – Freshman – Auburn- 6’10, 220 lbs- May 2003

Smith is one of those prospects where the eye-test and just watching him warm-up exhibits what a blend of size and shooting he has. His jumper mechanics are incredibly smooth, with a high release that makes his shot difficult to contest.

It wasn’t his best game as a prospect as Smith struggled to finish from two and around the rim. He took zero free throws for just the second time this season. The biggest knock on Smith stems from his inability to self-create and get to the rim, due to a lack of handle. That showcased itself against Saint Louis, but given his age and other offensive skills, I think he’ll certainly improve there. Smith also wasn’t super physical in the paint and is a below-average rebounder for his size. But he’s got a frame that projects to easy weight gain down the line. It’s important to note he’s one of the younger prospects in this class.

In-game, Smith continued to shoot the lights out, knocking down 3 of his 5 threes, including a clutch corner three to give Auburn the lead. When you factor in his size and mechanics, he is probably the best shooter in this entire draft class. Defensively, Smith used his plus length and lateral movement skills to make an impact. Once he adds weight, he projects as someone who can guard multiple front-court spots.

Smith’s strong play has firmly entered him into the No. 1 pick conversation with the likes of Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren. Banchero is currently the most well-rounded and best offensive player. Holmgren is a notch above both as a defender. But Smith is by far the best at the most important NBA skill, shooting. When you look at the track record of recent No. 1 pick debates, usually the better shooter has gone on to be the better player.

The Auburn freshman has been incredibly productive while being 12 months younger than Holmgren, six months younger than Banchero, and I’d argue he has more room to grow than both. I wouldn’t fault someone for taking Banchero No. 1, but at this point in the cycle, Smith is the best prospect in my eyes.