Jabari Smith Jr. has plenty of time to worry about the NBA draft. For now, it’s safe to say his utmost priority is leading Auburn to its first NCAA Tournament title in program history.
Besides, if Smith continues making jaw-dropping plays like the poster dunk below during the Tigers’ run through March Madness, his status as a top-two prospect in the 2022 draft will no doubt be cemented regardless.
JABARI SMITH WITH THE POSTER 😤#MarchMadness | @AuburnMBB pic.twitter.com/G0ufo40VGy
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 18, 2022
Smith’s towering jam over the 6’10” Brandon Huffman put an exclamation point on Auburn’s 80-61 win over Jacksonville State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The freshman phenom dropped 20 points, 14 rebounds and four assists on 6-of-13 shooting against the Gamecocks, also going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Smith’s blend of size, athleticism and ready-made shooting ability have made him not just one of the best players in college basketball this season, but helped separate him from other preseason candidates to be selected with the No. 1 pick of this summer’s draft.
Trust that every scout, executive and even owner in the NBA will catch highlights of Smith’s instant-classic jam. If his aerial exploits—not to mention the slack-jawed reaction of his teammates—didn’t quite break the internet, they came damn close.
JABARI SMITH FOR THE LOVE OF ELEVATION pic.twitter.com/IXlERkfByy
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 18, 2022
lmao Jabari Smith just threw down such a large dunk that even his teammates, who see him practice and do crazy shit every day, are just like “oh my god what just happened” pic.twitter.com/jFGI5RNcjP
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 18, 2022
There's your future No. 1 NBA draft pick.#WarEagle
— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) March 18, 2022
🎵 One Shining Moment, there frozen in time 🎵 https://t.co/UAOyKfBVHM
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) March 18, 2022
Jabari Smith. pic.twitter.com/r2DYyqW4F3
— Blake Lovell (@theblakelovell) March 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/JimmySpencer/status/1504892767813648385
Oh lord Jabari Smith just dunked that ball from somewhere in the arctic circle. Whoa that was nasty.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 18, 2022
We'll probably see that Jabari Smith dunk a couple million times between now and June. Sheeeeeeeeesh
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) March 18, 2022
Jabari Smith and the Tigers, 28-5, advance to face the winner of USC-Miami (FL) in the second round on Sunday.