Considering he was coming off ACL surgery just 15 months before, Dennis Smith Jr's freshman season with the North Carolina State Wolfpack was more than a little impressive.
Showing no ill effects from his knee injury, Smith piled up some killer numbers, managing 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 35.9% from three. (He also dropped a couple of triple-doubles.) NC State finished the 2016-17 season with a 15-17 record, but Smith still earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors and impressed NBA scouts with his explosive scoring ability.
His all-around athleticism and top gear speed allowed him to blow by opponents and slash to the rim with regularity. At just 6'2", Smith has a solid frame, and is able to withstand contact at the rim. He dropped 64.9% of his shots at the rim, and his fearlessness helped him get to the line a whole bunch (7.2 attempts per 40 minutes), where he sank 71.5% of his freebies.
With a quick first step and excellent ball-handling skills, Smith can create his own shot off the dribble -- only 21 of his 130 (16%) made two-point shots came off of passes from his teammates, per Hoop-Math.com. When opponents collapsed on him, Smith showed he could be a capable distributor, dishing out 6.9 dimes per 40 minutes, while leading the ACC with a 34.2% assist percentage, even with less than ideal NC State courtmates.
It wasn't all about offense, though, as Smith finished second in the ACC with 1.9 steals per game and third with a 3.1% steal percentage.
Smith is not without his flaws. While he has the potential to be an elite scorer in the NBA, his jump shot needs work, as he hit only 33.5% from outside. He also has to improve on his decision-making: Too much hero ball, too much dribbling out the shot clock without letting his teammates get a touch, and too many questionable jumpers. His overall ball handling skills need some improvement too, as he committed 3.9 turnovers per 40 minutes, with an embarrassingly high 17.2% turnover percentage.
That said, Smith's issues are outweighed by his immense potential to blossom into one the league's most exciting scorers. Little wonder he's been projected to be selected anywhere from fifth to 10th in the upcoming draft.
His ability to rack up the points will be an ideal fit for the Sacramento Kings at either five or ten. The New York Knicks would be wise to take a look at Smith with the eighth pick, as he'll upgrade both their backcourt and their entire offense.