Jabari Smith discusses how he's able to maintain focus amid all the NBA hype
Jabari Smith has elevated into one of the top players in all of college basketball. Naturally, the Auburn star is getting immense hype — even predicted to be the No. 1 overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft if he turns professional.
However, Smith has the NCAA Tournament ahead of him before he starts thinking about the NBA. With all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Tigers star, Smith discussed how he’s able to maintain his focus.
“It’s really not hard really,” revealed Smith. “Just keep focusing on winning, and everything else will take care of itself. If you go out there every night and focus on the win and not focus on yourself and stats and all of that, everything else is going to take care of itself.
“Come out ready to defend, play hard, and just play to win because the next loss it’s over with. Just focus on that, and everything else will take care of itself.”
On the season, Smith has earned the NBA hype and more. The Auburn star is averaging 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. His sheer ability has NBA decision-makers salivating, as Smith is the apple of many team’s eyes.
Nevertheless, there’s plenty of time before Smith has to worry about that. Right now, he’s focused on leading Auburn passed Miami and into the Sweet 16, and going even farther in the NCAA Tournament. If he can do so, he’ll etch his name in history with the Tigers.
WATCH: Jabari Smith slam caps impressive opening win for Auburn basketball
Moreover, Auburn cruised to a win in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament over Jacksonville State, taking home the 80-61 victory on Friday. Freshman Jabari Smith ended the game on an extremely high note. Smith grabbed a rebound at the top of the key, dribbled in, and finished with a poster dunk to put an emphasis on Auburn’s impressive win.
The dunk left essentially everyone in attendance speechless, including his coaches and teammates on the bench.
Following Auburn’s NCAA Tournament opening round win, Walker Kessler and Bruce Pearl talked to Tracy Wolfson of CBS on the court. Fresh off of Smith’s impressive dunk, it’s safe to say that Kessler was speechless.
“I mean, enough said,” Kessler said after a long pause. “I mean he’s such an athlete, I wish I could do that.”
Pearl had a great response to the play as he stood next to Kessler after the game.
“You can do that,” Pearl told Kessler. “Here’s my reaction. You can’t say anything.”
Good times are rolling for Auburn. Now, Jabari Smith and the Tigers have to keep it up.