The freshman guard from North Carolina State University is compared by NBADraft.net to the Los Angeles Clippers’ future Hall of Fame guard Chris Paul and to the Knicks’ Derrick Rose. The Wolfpack star is producing a well-rounded 18.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game in an extremely competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. Smith’s propensity to steal the ball helps drive the lofty comparisons, averaging 2.1 steals per game.
Smith is posting better numbers than either Rose or Paul did in college. Paul, also an ACC product at Wake Forest, had averages of 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.