Back at the start of December, Zhaire Smith wasn’t sure if he would ever hear from a major Division I college.
Smith, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound shooting guard at Garland Lakeview Centennial High School, then saw everything change after turning in some of his best games against top competition at the Whataburger Tournament in Corpus Christi.
Against Austin Westlake, Smith netted 31 points as the Patriots advanced to the championship game. Lakeview Centennial ultimately lost the game, but Smith — who averaged 21 points per contest in the tournament — was named to the all-tournament squad along with teammate Brendan Brooks.