Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr., who is projected to be one of the top picks in next year’s draft, has been sidelined indefinitely due to “right knee management,” writes Jeff Borzello of ESPN.
The 18-year-old freshman is No. 4 in ESPN’s latest draft rankings, making him the top prospect in college basketball. ESPN had him listed as the third-best recruit coming out of high school.
“He’s out indefinitely. That’s what it is,” Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said following Wednesday’s game. “There’s nothing else. He’s out indefinitely and he’s going to continue to rehab the best he can.”
Borzello notes that Smith missed the team’s first six games because of the knee, with the school calling it a precautionary measure. He played just six minutes in his debut November 28, then started the next three games, averaging 19.7 points and 3.0 assists.
Smith also started Saturday’s victory against Bradley, but played just 20 minutes and shot 1-of-8 from the field while scoring five points.
“Nick is a competitor, and he looked forward to playing for the Razorbacks,” Musselman told reporters, including Christina Long of The Fort Smith Times Record. “He’s kind of been in and out of the lineup, and we just want him to get healthy as quickly as possible and for him to be 100 percent.”
Best of luck and good health to this young player. Can’t wait to see him on the floor again.