The 2019-20 PAC 12 Most Improved Player, Chris Smith was en route to a great season before tearing his ACL as a senior. In his 2 upperclassmen seasons, Smith played a combined 39 games, averaging 13 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, and 2.5 TOPG on shooting splits of 46/37/83. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Chris Smith
Height/Weight:
Wingspan/ standing reach:
Hand size:
Position: Wing
College/ country: UCLA
Tools: Frame, shot creation
Pros:
- Great frame
- Smooth handle
- Good footwork in stop & go ball handling
- Good athlete that can finish above the rim in traffic
- Moves well laterally; can switch onto guards
- Good off-ball defender
- Good rebounder
Cons:
- Jump shot needs to be more fluid
- Never averaged more assists than turnovers
- Struggles to shoot over defenders
- Slow in pull-up jumpers; predictable and pre-meditated
- Will need to adjust to NBA tempo
- Passive & inconsistent effort level defensively
- Tore his ACL as a senior
Overall:
Chris Smith is a jumbo playmaker with size, athleticism, and versatility. Unfortunately, Smith’s senior season, which was likely to be a major breakout towards All-PAC 12 honors, was cut short due to a torn ACL. In his upperclassmen years, Smith showcased an improved ability to score in more versatile ways. His athleticism that helped him and allowed him to finish in traffic after beating his man was a key component of his breakout at UCLA. The main concern for Smith offensively is his shooting; his jump shot can be flat often, and his pull-up jump shooting is predictable. His offense can also be predictable at times, as it looks like he can pre-meditate his moves, shown in the airball mid range jumper below. Another area he has to improve is his consistent effort defensively. He has all the tools at 6’8 to be a unique tall ball-handler, but can struggle to put it together from game to game. If he can put all of his physical gifts together, he could be one of the best sleepers in the class.
Similar to: Cam Reddish, Cody Martin, Tyreke Evans
Projected draft range: Undrafted
Expected role: Jumbo wing that can defend and playmake.
Unplayable if: Jump shot doesn’t translate and his motor/passiveness holds him back
Exceeds expectations if: Jump shot translates and he doesn’t struggle with turnovers.
