SEC Freshman Of The Year Jabari Smith 2021-22 Season Highlights | 16.9 PPG 7.4 RPG 42.8 FG%

A consensus All-American, Smith was Auburn’s best player and among the best in the nation this season. His freshman season—and likely his only season of college ball—ends averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 1.85 assists. He shot 42.8 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range on the year.

“He’s such a great competitor and such a great teammate,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “He truly does love his teammates…. He’s been raised right. He’s got fantastic parents. He’s got great people around him. His AAU coaches, his high school coaches, his mentors -- he’s got it all. He really does. He’s not selfish. He’s hard-working. He’s disciplined. He’s got his routine.

“He’s a pro. He had a great experience at Auburn, and he made history at Auburn. So, I’m obviously very, very proud of him.”

Smith built his candidacy as a potential No. 1 pick by making impossible shots look easy all season. Those shots stopped falling at the worst time possible in a frenetic, up-tempo, small-ball game that saw Auburn completely fall apart in a loss to Miami, shooting 30% from the field and trailing from the opening tip.

Smith had easily his worst offensive game of the season, shooting 1-for-8 from 3 and 2-for-8 from 2, looking discombobulated by Miami's unorthodox style, and never finding any type of rhythm, like the rest of his team. Variance, and the extremely high degree of difficulty of attempts he lives off with his sped-up style will lead to nights like this on occasion, but it was still shocking to see it play out.

After 34 games, playing against an elite strength of schedule, NBA teams know exactly the type of prospect Smith is. Still, only two players over 6-6 have ever been drafted in the lottery after shooting under 45% from 2-point range (Cam Reddish and Ziaire Williams), and Smith's lack of explosiveness, extreme reliance on difficult jumpers and inability to create easy shots for himself or others inside the arc reared its head several times in this game, as it has all season.

On the positive side, Smith didn't go down without a fight, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds, posting three blocks and showing terrific effort all game long sliding his feet on the perimeter and covering ground all over the floor. He was obviously distraught in defeat, and can't be solely blamed for the loss, as his entire team (and coaching staff) had a very poor showing.

Smith will still be a top-3 draft pick ultimately, but his chances of going No. 1 got a little bit smaller with this surprising upset, even if he'll surely still receive strong consideration depending on which team gets the pick. -- Jonathan Givony

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