Arkansas fans will get a first look at class of 2022 signees Nick Smith Jr. and Jordan Walsh as teammates next week, as the duo will compete for the West squad in the McDonald’s All-America game on Tuesday.
Smith and Walsh are a part of the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class for the 2022 cycle and are expected to be key pieces in next year’s team as the Razorbacks look to build on the success of the 2021-22 season.
Smith is currently ranked as the No. 5 combo guard in the nation, and the No. 1 overall player from the state of Arkansas for the class of 2022. The five-star prospect from North Little Rock has first-round potential says Travis Branham, a basketball analyst for 247sports.
Nick Smith is an aggressive, confident, and dynamic combo guard with good size and long arms for the position. He’s a functional athlete with downhill speed, body control and fluidly changes speed and direction with the ball in his hands.
Walsh is the No. 2 prospect in all of Texas, and the No. 20 small forward in the country. Walsh could be an asset to the Razorbacks’ defense says 247sports recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins.
Walsh’s calling card may be on the defensive end where he is disruptive guarding the ball and contesting shots. He has a nose for the ball and looks to control the glass when motivated and he can lead the break after securing a defensive rebound but lacks the natural acumen to make the right decisions consistently in offensive structure.
Smith and Walsh are the first Razorback duo from the same signing class to compete in the game since Lee Mayberry and Todd Day were McDonald’s All-Americans in 1988.
The McDonald’s All-America Games will take place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. on March 29, 2022 at 8 p.m.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3h383th881vsf1 player_id=none image=https://razorbackswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
[vertical-gallery id=7482]