MARCH 5, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
NBA Draft: Nick Smith Jr. Could Give Thunder High-Octane Offense Nick Smith Jr.’s ability to score in a myriad of ways projects to pair well with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s up-and-coming young talent.
Smith leads Arkansas against No. 12 Tennessee after 24-point game
Arkansas plays the No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers after Nick Smith Jr. scored 24 points in the Razorbacks' 86-83 loss to the Alabama Crimson TideFEBRUARY 28, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
We May Just Be Seeing What Nick Smith Jr. Brings to Hogs After scoring 50 last week, freshman gets SEC honor, but still wrinkles to smooth.
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Smith leads Arkansas against No. 11 Tennessee after 24-point outing
Arkansas takes on the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers after Nick Smith Jr. scored 24 points in the Razorbacks' 86-83 loss to the Alabama Crimson TideFEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Draftables Spotlight – Nick Smith; what we saw on Saturday Coming off a 26 point performance on Tuesday against Georgia, Arkansas freshman Nick Smith was the focus of this week’s Draftables Spotlight...
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM
CBB Recruiting Weekly: Perry drops 61 in front of Calipari; NC State rising; Smith returns; weekend previews On the latest episode of College Basketball Recruiting Weekly, 247Sports college basketball recruiting experts Adam Finkelstein, Eric Bossi,...
FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM
What Nick Smith's Return Has Turned This Team into Now Maybe this is more like what coach Eric Musselman was planning all along.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM
New season high Smith totaled 26 points (9-14 FG, 5-8 3Pt, 3-4 FT), one rebound and two assists across 29 minutes during Tuesday's 97-65 win over Georgia.
Impact It was the second consecutive start for Smith, a five-star freshman with NBA aspirations who is finally starting to get healthy for the Razorbacks. He enjoyed an excellent matchup against a Georgia team that doesn't offer much defensively, but still saw significant minutes despite the blowout. Smith has now attempted 26 combined field goals over the last two games -- usage that suggests him remaining a major fantasy factor down the stretch for any fantasy managers that held on to him through the injury storm. Look for his price to rise significantly in daily formats as well.
FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Scores 10 points Smith finished Saturday's 84-65 victory over Florida with 10 points (4-12 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound, one assist and two steals over 32 minutes.
Impact Smith's 10 points were the best part of his first log as a starter post-injury. Previously one of college basketball's top prospects before he committed to Arkansas, knee injuries have stifled the freshman's growth across his first collegiate season. Yet, Smith has four regular-season games and tournament play to show just how good he is. Smith will receive the starting opportunities as well. All he must do is stay healthy enough to be on the court.
FEBRUARY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Starting Saturday Smith is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Florida, Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Impact Smith will return to his spot in the starting five in just his third game back from a knee injury. The 6-5 freshman has yet to get going since returning, averaging just 10.5 minutes per game and could see a longer leash for playing time now that he's being reinserted into the starting lineup.
FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Logs 17 minutes in return Smith contributed five points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 0-1 FT), one rebound and one assist in 17 minutes during Saturday's 70-64 loss to Mississippi State.
Impact Smith had missed his last 13 games due to a knee injury, so Saturday was the five-star freshman guard's first action since Dec. 17. It appears he'll be eased back into action with upperclassman Devonte Davis still serving as the primary ball-handler, but Smith did start four games earlier this season and averaged 16.0 ppg over that stretch. The Razorbacks are currently underachieving a bit with just a 6-6 record in SEC play, so Smith could serve as a spark and make the team significantly more dangerous as March approaches.
FEBRUARY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Hogs Will be Different with Nick Smith, Opening Up Scoring Exactly how that happens will be interesting, but only Eric Musselman knows.
FEBRUARY 12, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Hogs Will be Different with Nick Smith, Opening Up Scoring Exactly how that happens will be interesting, but only Eric Musselman knows.
FEBRUARY 12, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM
Will Nick Smith Play for Hogs today against Mississippi State? We won’t know until 5 p.m. about status of Razorbacks’ star freshman guard.
FEBRUARY 11, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Good to go Saturday Smith (knee) is available for Saturday's game versus Mississippi State, Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Smith hasn't played since Dec. 17 due to a knee injury. The freshman forward is averaging 12.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23.6 minutes across five games this season and is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA draft. However, fantasy managers should expect Smith to play limited minutes and be eased back into the swing of things.
FEBRUARY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Hopefully available Saturday Smith (knee) will hopefully return to action Saturday against Mississippi State, Jeff Goodman of Stadium reports.
Impact Per Goodman, Smith has been able to practice the last few days, so the team is hoping he can return from his lengthy absence soon. The 6-foot-5 freshman hasn't played since Dec. 17 due to the knee injury, and he's made only five appearances (four starts) this season. He's averaging 12.8 points across 23.6 minutes per game, but the majority of his production came during a three-game stretch to start December, when he posted at least 16 points in three straight contests, including back-to-back 20-plus-point performances.
FEBRUARY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
If Nick Smith is Back Against Mississippi State, Where Does He Fit In? Dropping freshman guard into the line-up much harder, more disruptive than last time
FEBRUARY 9, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Practicing again Smith (knee) practiced recently, according to Christina Long of the Southwest Times Record.
Impact Smith was able to practice with the Arkansas team the last few days. Arkansas' head coach Eric Musselman said he is "optimistic and hopeful that Smith will be able to play sometime in the near future." Despite not making the trip to Kentucky, there is a chance, albeit very small, Smith could return as soon as Saturday when the Razorbacks host Mississippi State.
FEBRUARY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
No updates provided Head coach Eric Musselman has been unable to provide any updates on the status of Smith (knee) this week, Hunter Shelton of Sports Illustrated reports.
Impact Smith has yet to see the court since making his fourth consecutive start Dec. 17 against Bradley, and there hasn't been much of an update on his health since it was disclosed in early-January that the 18-year-old freshman would be visiting a knee specialist. Musselman and the Razorbacks have kept quiet on his status, and there's been rampant speculation that the five-star recruit might throw in the towel on the 2022-23 season and shift his focus on preparations for the NBA Draft, where many project him as a lottery pick. Time may be running out for Smith to make an impact in a prospective late-season run, as he'll likely need an adjustment period even if he does return, as he's appeared in just five games this season. In the meantime, Arkansas has won four of its last five games to bounce back from a four-game losing streak, and the team will continue to move forward with upperclassman Davonte Davis as the primary ball-handler for as long as Smith is sidelined.
FEBRUARY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Even if Nick Smith Comes Back, He Shouldn't Be Expected to Be Knight in Shining Armor Freshman guard is an 18-year-old who doesn’t deserve Razorback fans piling his shoulders with unrealistic expectations
JANUARY 24, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Visiting knee specialist Smith (knee) will visit a specialist to diagnose his injury, Mason Choate of Rivals.com reports.
Impact Currently, Smith's right knee is a significant concern for the Razorbacks. Davonte Davis and Ricky Council are expected to be their starting backcourt until further notice. Smith's availability status is unchanged, so they will have sufficient opportunities while he sits out indefinitely.
JANUARY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
No update of injury Smith (knee) continues to be out indefinitely.
Impact Arkansas' head coach Eric Musselman was able to give an update of Trevon Brazile (knee, out for the NCAA's 2022-23 season) but not Smith. Thus, fantasy managers should continue considering him out indefinitely.
JANUARY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
23 in '23: Top college basketball storylines entering the new year
Whether you're just getting into college hoops as the calendar turns to January or you're looking for a reset on the sport, here are 23 stor...DECEMBER 30, 2022
Worry, Guess All You Want, Muss Figuring Out How to Win Games When Nick Smith Jr. gets on floor every time, nobody knows and won’t for awhile
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Worry, Guess All You Want, Muss Figuring Out How to Win Games When Nick Smith Jr. gets on floor every time, nobody knows and won’t for awhile
DECEMBER 22, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
