Charlotte Hornets select Nick Smith Jr. in 2023 NBA Draft

The Charlotte Hornets selected Arkansas shooting guard Nick Smith Jr. with the No. 27 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Smith Jr. was limited to 17 games in his lone season with the Razorbacks. But he made most of it scoring wise.

He finished the season with 12.5 points per game, 1.6 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, shot 37.6% from the floor and 33.8% from three-point range.

As a member of the Class of 2022, Smith Jr. was a five-star recruit out of Sherwood (Ark.) North Little Rock, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 1 shooting guard in the class and the No. 3 overall prospect in the class.

Obviously, Smith decided to stay in his home state for his year in college, although it didn’t play out as planned. He was injured for much of the non-conference schedule and only started playing regularly in mid-February.

But from Feb. 21st through the end of the year, Smith averaged a tick under 15 points per game and helped lead Arkansas to a Sweet 16. So even with the injuries, he came out of his freshman year looking the part of his high school ranking.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Nick Smith Jr.

“A natural scorer with excellent athleticism and length, Smith has a quick first step and a tight handle that allows him to work around defenders and create his own shot,” his analysis said on NBA.com. “Mechanics-wise, his jump shot looks elite, though he shot only 33.8% from deep in a relatively limited sample (4.2 3PA/G) at Arkansas. Smith’s burst and shiftiness off the dribble may be his most useful trait at the next level, where he projects as a two-guard who can also play on the ball. Smith’s athleticism and long wingspan (6-foot-8) should enable him to be a decent defender at the next level, but he may need to add some weight.

“Even after an abbreviated season at Arkansas, Smith firmly projects as a lottery pick and carries immense upside, offensively. While he likely won’t step directly into a major role, Smith should make an impact as a rookie and has the talent to develop into a borderline star down the road – particularly if he progresses as a playmaker to complement his scoring. Smith’s game shows shades of Jamal Crawford, Malik Monk and Jordan Poole.”