Arkansas basketball commit Nick Smith is currently in line to be the highest-rated recruit in program history. The North Little Rock senior is ranked the No. 6 player in the country in his Class of 2022 and was recently named a McDonalds All-American.
For now, he has to finish his final season with the Charging Wildcats.
On Tuesday night, he knocked down a buzzer-beater against rival Little Rock Central to lift NLR to 76-74 victory and keep his team undefeated in conference play.
Nick Smith for the win! The @RazorbackMBB commit beats the buzzer in OT to put NLR on top of LR Central!
Shoutout to @NLRTV4 pic.twitter.com/QClzchGPTp
— Tyler Cass (@TVTylerCass) February 2, 2022
Smith, who signed with the Razorbacks in November, scored 21 of his game-high 29 points in the second half. He was named the projected No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft by ESPN last month, as well.
Smith is one of two McDonalds All-Americans in Arkansas’ recruiting class next season. Jordan Walsh a 6-7 forward from Branson was also named. They’re joined in the class by three four-star players in forward Barry Dunning and guards Derrian Ford and Joseph Pinion.