The Texas Tech Red Raiders could be without guard Zhaire Smith next season. This is after Smith himself announce on his Twitter account that he will be among the applicants in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft following an impressive freshman season in Lubbock.
I am excited to say that I am going to enter my name in NBA Draft without an agent. I would like to see where I stand after my freshman year. I would like to Thank coach Beard, my parents, and the best fans in college basketball #RedRaiderNation
Like fellow Big 12 guard Malik Newman, Zhaire Smith turned plenty of heads in the NCAA Tournament with his magnificent display of athleticism and all-around play. Smith went awfully close to stringing a rare triple-double performance in the second round of the Big Dance, when he scored 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out seven assists in a 69-66 win over the Florida Gators.
Unlike Newman, Smith has not hired an agent yet, leaving the door open for a possible return to Texas Tech.
In his most recent (and likely last) outing in Red Raiders threads, Smith put up only seven points in a 71-59 loss to eventual national champions Villanova Wildcats in the Elite Eight portion of the tournament. In 37 games for Texas Tech last season, Smith managed averages of 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Standing 6-foot-5 with a 195-pound frame, Smith has the ideal body for a guard in the NBA. He also has a good touch from the outside, as evidenced by his 45.0 three-point shooting percentage in college. He also shot 55.6 percent from the floor, which was largely a result of his ability to move without the ball and get near the basket for high percentage shots. Per Hoop-Math, Smith attempted 62.5 percent of his shots at the rim.
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