Chalk up another one for Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr.
The Razorbacks freshman was named to the 2023 Jerry West Award watch list on Tuesday. The award is given to the top shooting guard in Division I basketball.
Smith has yet to play in a real game at Arkansas yet. He had nine points in 20 minutes in the Hogs’ exhibition win over Rogers State over the weekend. The North Little Rock High product will get another shot against a real team Saturday against Texas in Arkansas’ final exhibition.
Smith was previously named preseason All-SEC first-team by the league’s assembled media. CBS Sports named him Preseason National Player of the Year. Blue Ribbon Magazine called him National Newcomer of the Year. And Andy Katz said Smith is the No. 2 freshman in the country.
Fans can vote for the West Award winner beginning Friday at hoophallawards.com.
Other SEC players named as candidates were Cason Wallace and Antonio Reeves from Kentucky, Isiaih Mosley from Missouri and Santiago Vescovi from Tennessee.
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