Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Baton Rouge, LA (Future150) -- Every so often, you see a prospect who has the "it" factor you look for in big time prospects. They are smooth with the ball, they make the game look effortless, and everything seems to come extremely easy to them.
In the class of 2018, one prospect who fits the bill is Louisiana native Javonte Smart. The 6-foot-1 combo guard oozes potential and is extremely impressive with the ball in his hands. He proved that to us not only on the AAU circuit last summer, but again at our Elite24 camp in Atlanta in August.
He not only made the Elite24 All-Star Game for campers in his class, but he also left the camp as the overall #2 ranked player in the 2018 class. Here is what Future150 Southeast Analyst Garrett Tucker had to say about Smart at camp.
"Smart was one of the most high-powered scorers to hit the court on Saturday. The 6-foot-1 scorer scored the ball at all three levels, but he was most effective with his three-point shooting and getting to the rim. He proved that he is hard to stop when he is feeling it, and he is very crafty around the rim, making him that much harder to stop."
While he is very good when playing the shooting guard position, his long term potential might be best suited for the lead guard spot. He already has good size for the position, and has uncanny court vision on the floor. While he isn't the quickest kid on the floor, his ability to pick his spots wisely and his knowledge of the game far exceeds other prospects his age.
Stay tuned to Future150 as we continue to track the progress of the #20 ranked prospect nationally in 2018.
Comments:
That’s my nephew, and he is his fathers son, he goin straight to the top!!!! GOOOOO JAY!!!!