Tag: Jabari Smith

Auburn signee Aden Holloway set to compete in McDonald’s All-American game on Tuesday

Be sure to watch Holloway compete on Tuesday night in the prestigious All-American game.

Auburn 2023 signee [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag] will compete on the big stage Tuesday night as he takes the floor at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston, Texas.

Holloway is Auburn’s lone high school signee of the 2023 cycle, but he is considered to be one of the nation’s best guards of the class. He is the No. 6 overall player from the State of California, and the No. 6 point guard according to 247Sports, which also lists him as a four-star prospect.

Holloway was named to the McDonald’s All-American East team roster in January, as he plans to represent his hometown of Matthews, North Carolina. In the game, he will be teammates with Michigan State signee Xavier Booker, Oregon signee Kwame Brown, and Colorado signee Cody Williams.

ESPN’s Paul Biancardi says that he is looking forward to the matchup between Holloway and the son of NBA legend Lebron James, Bronny James, on Tuesday.

Holloway is one of the best shot-makers in the class. He shot 40% this season and can shoot it from deep with a quick trigger. He makes shots in diverse ways: catch-and-shoot actions, cutting off screens and stopping behind ball screens. He is an impactful jump shooter you must stay connected with. James has made considerable progress, becoming an all-around player with an upside as a defender. He utilizes instincts and emerging athletic ability to play one-on-one defense, take a charge or make an impressive chase down clock. His IQ and shot-making have been steady all season. Covering Holloway is a challenge for anyone. James has to able limit his 3s and contest his shots as he anticipates his dribble drive. Will Holloway keep James from getting a driving line angle and making a highlight?

Holloway is the fifth Auburn signee ever to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game, joining [autotag]Korvotney Barber[/autotag], [autotag]Sharife Cooper[/autotag], [autotag]Frank Ford[/autotag], and most recently, a first-round selection of the Houston Rockets, [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag].

The McDonald’s All-American Game will be broadcasted live on ESPN at 8 p.m. CT.

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Jabari Smith joins Hakeem Olajuwon in Rockets history

Jabari Smith is starting to heat up.

[autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] continued his great play Monday night and helped lead the Houston Rockets to a 111-109 win over the Boston Celtics.

Smith finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, his third-straight game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. The former Auburn Tiger is the first Rockets rookie to accomplish that feat since the great Hakeem Olajuwon did so in six straight games in 1985.

Smith, the third overall pick in last year’s draft, struggled to start the season but has turned a corner over the past six games. He is averaging 18.7 points and 7.8 rebounds over that stretch

Even more impressively, he is starting to become an efficient scorer. He is shooting 72.9% from the field and 53.6% from 3-point range in those six games.

“(I’m) just letting it go and trusting my work,” Smith told Vanessa Richardson of AT&T SportsNet Southwest. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was born (so I’m) trusting my work, trusting what got me here and just letting it fly.”

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Auburn men’s basketball all-time roster: Tiger Legends

Who is the best of the best in Auburn basketball’s 117 year history?

As conference tournaments begin and the NCAA tournament field starts to take shape… we can officially say that it is March.

The Auburn Tigers began the season with high expectations following an SEC regular season championship. However, with the loss of [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] to the NBA Draft, the Tigers have needed time to get back to their winning ways.

Auburn basketball has won over 1,400 games in its 117-year history and has had many great athletes contribute to that total, with ten going on to be first-round picks in the NBA Draft.

Who are the best of the best when it comes to Auburn basketball’s history?

Auburn Wire has chosen three coaches, five starters, and five reserves to be a part of the all-time roster for Auburn. Here’s a look at the time, with Auburn basketball’s winningest coach starting us off.

Two former Auburn players top 10 in NBA 2K23 rookie ratings

These two former Tigers are representing the Plains well as the All-Star break ends.

Tigers fans looking to play as former Auburn players in NBA 2K23 should expect some good performances.

The NBA is just coming back from the All-Star break, and two familiar names are among the top 10 highest-rated rookies in the game — the Utah Jazz’s [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] and the Houston Rockets’ [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag]. Kessler is the No. 2-rated rookie at 81 overall and Smith is the No.10-rated rookie at 77 overall.

Kessler’s high ranking is well deserved. He’s averaged 9.6 rebounds and 11.1 points per game in his last 10 matchups, and he’s currently averaging 8.2 points per game across the entire year. Kessler’s play has the Jazz currently sitting in 11th in the Western Conference, leaving the team definitively in the fight for a spot in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Smith, meanwhile, has played for a Rockets team that is currently last in the entire NBA in winning percentage. Despite that, though, he’s played admirably, averaging 12 points per game and seven rebounds per game. He has a relatively low field goal percentage, though, shooting at a 38.9% clip on the year.

There are likely more ratings updates coming to 2K as the season continues, so it will be interesting to see where the former Auburn players land at the end of the year.

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Jabari Smith’s father said the Thunder promised to draft his son, but they took Chet Holmgren

Jabari Smith Jr. didn’t have the night he anticipated.

It is always hard to predict what will happen in the NBA Draft, but the most recent class was particularly surprising for even the top prospects.

Jabari Smith Jr., who was long considered the favorite to hear his name at No. 1 overall, didn’t have the night he anticipated. We shouldn’t have been so surprised that the Magic selected Paolo Banchero and not Smith or Chet Holmgren, it seemed to be a shock to everyone — including the oddsmakers.

Many — including league insider Chris Haynes — assumed Smith go next.

Holmgren, instead, was then selected at No. 2 overall and Smith ended up falling to the Houston Rockets at No. 3 overall. Here is what veteran reporter Marc Spears had to say about the evening (via Andscape):

Jabari Smith Sr. noticed that his son was crumbling emotionally. Smith Jr.’s legs shook so hard it made the table jump in the NBA draft’s green room at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The elder Smith grabbed his son’s leg and said some words of wisdom to calm him and put it all quickly in perspective.

“So, they called Chet Holmgren’s name, and he lost it,” Smith Sr. told Andscape. “Leg went to shaking. I looked at him. He is almost in tears. And I forgot that he told me that OKC [promised to draft him], so I got to keep my mouth closed about that.”

It is impossible to know exactly what was said between the involved parties. But most other reporting suggests that Oklahoma City was always targeting Holmgren, not Smith.

Still, however, these comments from Smith Sr. (who also played in the NBA) are indeed notable.

Holmgren has missed the entirety of his rookie season due to a foot injury.

Smith has struggled to find his rhythm on the offensive side of the floor, but some of his defensive highlights have been particularly exciting for Houston.

The Thunder have played particularly well of late and look ahead of schedule in their rebuild. The Rockets, meanwhile, are now in a prime position to win the lottery and potentially draft prized prospect Victor Wembanyama.

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Auburn signee added to McDonalds All-American team

Aden Holloway becomes the first Auburn signee to earn the honor since Jabari Smith in 2021.

Class of 2024 Auburn signee [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag] has joined an elite company.

Not only is he one of the best players to ever sign with Auburn, but he is also one of the few Auburn signees to ever earn the honor of being a McDonald’s All-American.

Holloway was one of 24 players named to the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game on Tuesday. The Matthews, North Carolina native will compete on the East team, alongside Michigan State signee Xavier Booker, Oregon signee Kwame Brown, and Colorado signee Cody Williams.

He becomes the fifth Auburn signee to be honored as a McDonald’s All-American and becomes the first since [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] in 2021. Former Tigers [autotag]Sharife Cooper[/autotag], [autotag]Korvotney Barber[/autotag], and [autotag]Frank Ford[/autotag] were also recognized as high school All-Americans.

Holloway is a four-star point guard originally from Murphy, North Carolina, but currently plays high school basketball for Prolific Prep in Napa, California. He is Auburn’s lone 2023 signee and is the fourth-best player to ever sign with Auburn according to 247Sports. He is the No. 27 overall player from the 2023 cycle, and the No. 6 point guard in the nation.

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Jabari Smith shares viral moment with Lebron James during Monday’s Rockets-Lakers game

Just how long has Lebron James played in the NBA? The former Auburn Tiger shared a piece of information that made “King James” feel old.

Lebron James has built an amazing career over a 20-year span in the NBA by winning multiple NBA championships and Most Valuable Player awards.

It seems as if nothing will slow down “King James”, but former Auburn Tiger [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] shared a moment with James that made the NBA great feel his age.

In a viral moment between James and Smith during Monday’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Smith shared a piece of trivia that puts a measuring stick on how long James has been a professional player.

“You played against my dad in your first NBA game ever,” Smith said to James during a dead ball period.

“Why did you do that to me?” James responded in a joking manner to which Smith responded with “you feel old, don’t you?”

Smith’s father, Jabari Smith Sr., played three NBA seasons, two of which were for the Sacremento Kings. Smith Sr. was on the Kings’ roster during James’ debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 30, 2003, but did not record a stat in the game.

The Lakers would go on to defeat the Rockets, 140-132 on Monday. In the loss, Smith scored 14 points and recorded four rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes of action.

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Behind Enemy Lines: Auburn-Arkansas preview with Razorbacks Wire’s Connor Goodson

Ahead of Auburn’s game against Arkansas on Saturday, Connor Goodson of Razorbacks Wire provides an inside look at the Razorbacks.

The No. 20 Auburn Tigers dropped their first SEC contest of the season on Wednesday, falling to Georgia, 76-64 at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.

Next on the schedule is a home date with the No. 13 Arkansas Razorbacks this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT at Neville Arena. Following a loss on Wednesday to a rival, plus the ending of last season’s game in Fayetteville, Auburn will enter Saturday’s contest with a sour taste in their mouths.

The last time these two teams met, Auburn traveled to Bud Walton Arena as the No. 1 team in the country and left with an 80-76 overtime loss. First-rounders [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] joined [autotag]Wendell Green Jr.[/autotag] in reaching double-figures in the score column, but Arkansas took advantage of Auburn fouls by scoring 11 of their 14 overtime points from the free throw line.

All eyes will be on Neville Arena this Saturday, as Auburn and Arkansas will be the only game in the SEC featuring two ranked teams. In an effort to help us learn more about Auburn’s next opponent, we reached out to Razorbacks Wire’s Connor Goodson for assistance.

Goodson joined us to discuss Arkansas’ first SEC win of the season over Missouri, injury woes, and the growing legend of Ricky Council VI. Without further delay, here is the next edition of Behind Enemy Lines with Connor Goodson of Razorbacks Wire.

5-star PG Tahaad Pettiford puts Auburn in top 7

The Tigers are in a great place for one of the best point guards in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

[autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] and Auburn have landed some impressive recruiting classes since he took over but the 2024 class has the chance to be the best one yet.

One of Auburn’s top targets is five-star point guard [autotag]Tahaad Pettiford[/autotag] and on Monday he included Auburn in his top seven schools. They will be battling UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, Seton Hall, and Ole Miss for the New Jersey native.

Pettiford is the No. 21 overall player and No. 2 point guard in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 2 prospect from New Jersey.

The Tigers were one of his first offers, extending an offer back on June 15, 2022, to the 5-foot-11, 160-pound point guard. That move paid off as he took an official visit to the Plains on Sept. 17, 2022. That is currently the only visit he has taken and is one of the reasons the Tigers are the heavy favorites to land him.

According to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Tigers have a 78.5% chance of landing him. If that does happen, he would become the second highest-rated signee in program history. Trailing [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] and just edging out [autotag]Sharife Cooper[/autotag].

He isn’t the only five-star high on Auburn in the 2024 recruiting class, small-forward [autotag]Ace Bailey[/autotag] announced his top 12 schools on Sunday and the Tigers made the cut. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine also believes the Tigers are the overwhelming favorite to land Bailey, giving them a 94.2% chance of landing him.

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Jabari Smith defended Giannis Antetokounmpo as well as you will ever see from an NBA rookie

The Rockets had the worst defense in the NBA last season. Jabari Smith can change that.

The Houston Rockets shockingly defeated the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, and it was a statement victory by the rebuilding organization.

On a long-term basis, the Rockets may prefer losses over wins so they can be more firmly in the race for coveted prospect Victor Wembanyama. But being such a young team, they also need victories like what they earned on Sunday to grow and develop.

This was a particularly important game for Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr., who stripped and blocked Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo on back-to-back defensive possessions in the third quarter.

This game likely served as a massive confidence booster for Smith, who was selected No. 3 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Smith went toe-to-toe against Antetokounmpo for the entirety of the game, defending the Milwaukee superstar for 44.2 partial possessions. That is the second-most possessions any player has guarded Antetokounmpo during the 2022-23 campaign, trailing only PJ Tucker on Nov. 18.

The results for Smith, who is still only 19 years old, were astonishing.

Antetokounmpo was 4-for-13 (30.7 percent) when defended by Smith on Sunday, per PBPStats. Some of his all-around defensive highlights against the six-time All-Star were as good as it gets:

When including data from last season, there are 31 games in which an opponent defended Antetokounmpo for at least 10 attempts from the field. Only two held the two-time NBA MVP to a lower field goal percentage.

Meanwhile, there are 48 games so far this season in which an opponent defended Antetokounmpo for at least 10 possessions. Only three of those defenders have held Antetokounmpo to a lower scoring average (18.1 points per 100 possessions) on those opportunities than Smith did.

Antetokounmpo finished the game on Sunday scoring just 16 points in 36 minutes, which is among his lowest points totals since 2017-18.

Smith was drafted by the Rockets largely because he is 6-foot-10 and still managed to shoot 42.0 percent on 3-pointers during his freshman season at Auburn.

But his defensive upside is clearly very high as well, and that’s great news for the Rockets, who had the worst defensive rating in the NBA last season.

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