Welcome to the my third scouting report of the year. I have been watching games and film all season and it is finally time to compile my thoughts into scouting reports, mock drafts, and more big boards. For my first two scouting reports I did Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero which you can check out by clicking those links. For my third scouting report I’ll be doing future top 3 pick and my number 1 overall prospect… Jabari Smith.

To see my overall thoughts, read until the end.

My Big Board Ranking as of 4/26: 1

Most Impressive Stats

Acccording to CBBanalytics, Jabari is the only draft prospect to shoot over 40% from 3 and average atleast a block per 40 minutes

According to CJ Marchesani, Jabari Smith has an 96 spacing rating and a 97 gravity rating out of 100

• Spacing is a measurement on how much you affect your defender without the ball and gravity is how much you affect the help defense with the ball

Strengths

• Is an elite 3 point shooter
• At 6’10 can rise up and shoot over anyone
• Great defender, can guard 2-4 and potentially 1’s
• On ball defensive stance is textbook, truly impressive to watch
• Good rebounder, averaged 10.3 per 40 minutes
• Wants to win, can see a fire and drive in his game
• Already has devoloped his offensive game from high school to NBA so it show signs of growth

Weaknesses

• Not incredibly creative with the ball if he isn’t shooting
• Doesn’t have a great handle
• Outside of shooting isn’t a great scorer
• Shot 43.5% from 2 which is the 31st percentile of prospects
• Is too upright when he dribbles
• Not as good of a rim protector as he should be at 6’10
• Will need to devolop into a better playmaker to become a star

Best Potential Fits: Pistons, Pacers, Trail Blazers, Thunder

Worst Potential Fits: Magic, Wizards, Kings (they will be on everyone’s bad fit list)

Shades Of: Jaren Jackson Jr., Rashard Lewis, Michael Porter Jr., Taller-Lockdown Cameron Johnson

Best Game: 2/16/22 vs Vanderbilt

Worst Game: 1/25/22 @Missouri

Best 5 Games Stretch: 2/16/22-3/2/22 (vs Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, @Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State)

Overall Thoughts

In order for me to justify having Jabari as my number 1 prospect I think it is important to first know that I don’t believe any of the top 3 players in the draft (Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren) will ever be superstars in their careers. With that being said I believe Jabari Smith both has the highest floor and highest ceiling out of the top 3 prospects.

Even without offensive playmaking or self creation outside of shooting over people, Jabari Smith is an incredible player. On offense, Jabari Smith is going to average 20 points a game simply because of his jumpshot and on defense Jabari has the tools and grit to be an all defensive team defender. Most importantly, scouts and coaches are raveing about his maturness and his work ethic. When watching Jabari play it is easy to see the passion he plays the game with, especially on the defensive end.

I listed a couple of “bad fits” for Jabari up top but the truth is I would take Jabari #1 no matter what team is. I would predict Jabari Smith is never going to be the first option on a good team (although there is potential is self creation gets better) but he will be an elite second option playing next to another star. The ideal situation for Jabri is if he was able to play off of Cade Cunningham in Detroit. As long as he gets in the right situation, Jabari Smith will be a pivitol piece on a contending team in his career. Winning is the most important thing in basketball and Jabari Smith is a WINNER. That is why he is the number 1 pick.

Career Projection: 7x All-Star, Multiple All-Defensive Teams, Second Best Player on a Contender