TexasHoops Analysis: Zhaire Smith

The talk of the 59th Whataburger Tournament was Lakeview Centennial's Zhaire Smith and his crowd-pleasing dunks. -But the 6-foot-5 forward showed much more to the TexasHoops.com staff.

Smith has always been able to throw down highlight reel dunks, and the question has been if he can be more than an open floor scorer.

Earlier in the month of December at the Garland Tournament, Smith was already on his way to becoming a more polished perimeter scorer and was rewarded for his improvement moving up into the top 30 of the updated class of 2017 Top 100. Still, was Smith an undersized four-man or could he elevate himself even more as an athletic three-man?

At the Whataburger tourney, Smith checked off the boxes and demonstrated his ability to play the small forward position. With his explosive first step to the basket and his elevator type leaping ability, Smith is dangerous once he steps a foot into the lane (on both ends of the court). What he has done on the perimeter has been more impressive. Smith is coming off the dribble and hitting 15-foot jumpers, stepping out past the arc and nailing the three, though he is still streaky, Smith is a threat. His ball handling has been better away from the rim and Smith has added a nice touch on his passes to his teammates.

Then on the defensive side of the ball, Smith can run down an opponent in transition and throw the ball into the stands. His defensive instincts have been what has also carried him through the years and that will be a plus at the next level. In the right program, Smith will be able to go on the block and defend and make plays using his long reach and changing the game on the block.