The NBA Draft isn’t until 2022, but Jabari Smith is already putting up MVP-caliber numbers and has a legit shot at the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. The question of who would be selected first if this occurred makes for some interesting debate, especially after watching Jabari blow by defenders with ease on his way to an amazing performance last night against North Carolina State University
Jabari Smith Sr. went on to say that if he was drafted by the NBA, he wouldn’t be the first top pick with an early exit from March Madness.
This isn’t how Jabari Smith Jr., a probable No. 1 selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, envisioned his season with the Auburn Tigers coming to a close.
The Tigers were strongly expected to defeat 10th-seeded Miami in the Round of 32 and progress to the Sweet Sixteen, but they instead lost 79-61 to the Hurricanes and were eliminated early. Smith’s stat line — 10 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks on 3-of-16 shooting — was a mixed bag, loaded with the highlight-reel exploits that have lifted his status but also overflowing over with fiercely contested tries that struck iron rather than twine.
Of course, putting too much guilt on his shoulders is difficult.
Auburn’s backcourt appeared to forget they were playing with such a highly regarded prospect, seizing possessions after crossing the threshold and ignoring him to pound the ball into the floor or attempt an ill-advised shot. But he still battled, and if he decides to go pro, the image of him trudging off the court in defeat will be etched in his mind.
Fortunately for his draft status, this may not be an issue. It won’t be for reasons other than an early March Madness exit if he leaves after the first choice in the 2022 draft.
Two games into March Madness, Jabari Smith and the Auburn Tigers were eliminated.
The Auburn Tigers’ Jabari Smith takes a shot against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes | Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Jabari Smith’s season shouldn’t be defined by one game. He’s a 6-foot-10 forward who can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket, flourish on the boards, drop in pull-up jumpers over even the most athletic defenders, and throw it down with authority when given a runway.
He was the SEC Rookie of the Year, averaging 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks, and just 1.9 turnovers while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 42.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 79.9 percent from the free throw line. When you consider his defensive flexibility, it’s no surprise that he’s at or near the top of almost every mock draft – including the one we released in late February.
However, the unpleasant fact remains the same. Despite having a No. 2 next to their name, Smith’s Tigers only made it two games into the 2022 NCAA men’s basketball tournament before falling short by a double-digit deficit.
After going 27-4 in the regular season to earn the best record in the SEC, the Tigers dropped the first game of their conference tournament to the Texas A&M Aggies. They got back on track with an 80-61 defeat of Jacksonville State in their first March Madness game, but that momentum evaporated against the Hurricanes.
Smith’s performances, which were hampered by the Auburn backcourt’s mediocre play, particularly in high-pressure situations, followed suit. However, several recent No. 1 choices who joined the NBA in the top slot despite early departures have experienced the same fate.
What happened to recent No. 1 choices during March Madness?
Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham goes for the basket against Oregon State | C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Though we could easily go back deeper in the archives, we only need to look at the previous decade of draft history to see that a strong playoff performance isn’t required to secure a high place in the prospect rankings:
- Cade Cunningham was a freshman for an Oklahoma State squad that received a No. 4 seed but fell in the second round to No. 12 Oregon State.
- Anthony Edwards was a freshman for a Georgia team that finished 16-16 and missed the NCAA tournament in 2020.
- 2019: Zion Williamson was a freshman on a Duke squad that had a No. 1 seed but lost in the Elite Eight to No. 2 Michigan State.
- Deandre Ayton was a freshman for an Arizona team that had a No. 4 seed but fell in the first round to No. 13 Buffalo.
- Markelle Fultz was a freshman on a Washington team that finished 9-22 and missed the NCAA tournament.
- Ben Simmons was a rookie on an LSU team that finished 19-14 and missed the NCAA tournament in 2016.
- Karl-Anthony Towns was a rookie on a Kentucky team that received a No. 1 seed but lost in the Final Four to No. 1 Wisconsin.
- Andrew Wiggins was a freshman on a Kansas team that had a No. 2 seed but fell in the second round to No. 10 Stanford.
- Anthony Bennett was a freshman for a UNLV squad that received a No. 5 seed but fell in the first round to No. 12 California.
- Anthony Davis was a freshman on a Kentucky team that received a No. 1 seed and went on to win the national championship in 2012.
Smith would not only escape being an outlier, but he would also be one of the more successful first-round choices if he came off the board first.
Anthony Edwards, Markelle Fultz, and Ben Simmons were all left out of the NCAA tournament. Deandre Ayton and Anthony Bennett both failed to advance beyond the first round, falling to teams with lower seeding than the No. 10 Hurricanes. Cade Cunningham and Andrew Wiggins were both eliminated in the second round, while the most recent top choice was relegated to a No. 12 seed at the same level.
Only Zion Williamson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Davis, who all played for blueblood schools at the pinnacle of their modern-era powers, advanced to the showpiece tournament.
Will Jabari Smith be the first pick in the NBA Draft in 2022?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0sia2 JIOQ
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According to Tom Green of AL.com, Jabari Smith is indecisive about his future after the second-round setback.
Allegedly.
If he declines the chance to become a shoo-in for one of the top three choices in the 2022 NBA Draft, he will be one of the most highly rated prospects in recent memory to return to college for one more season. Even if the name, image, and likeness (NIL) regulations drastically alter the monetary equation, he’d still be risking damage by tampering with a stock that can only go down.
He’ll almost certainly declare for the draft in the coming weeks, after the sorrow of the Miami loss has subsided. Expecting a prospect to forego camaraderie with their teammates in the immediate aftermath of a season’s finish isn’t the best technique if you want to get to the bottom of their actual sentiments.
Smith won’t be a lock to go No. 1 if and when he declares, but it isn’t due to March Madness’ faults.
Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero have already guided Gonzaga and Duke to the Sweet Sixteen, respectively, and will continue to wow the numerous scouts in attendance. They’re both tremendous athletes, and the former’s unicorn game in particular has the potential to propel him all the way to the top by the time the nets are taken down.
Either one — or even a red-hot Jaden Ivey at Purdue — might take the top spot, but not because Smith lost it when his team fell short.
RELATED: Scouting Duke Basketball’s Potential No. 1 Pick Paolo Banchero is set to compete in the NCAA Tournament.
