“Buzz kept saying how excited they are as an organization about getting Nick.” “I had an opportunity to catch up with Buzz Peterson ,” Musselman said. More from WholeHogSports: Former Memphis forward commits to Arkansas Musselman said he had “great discussions” about Smith with Kupchak and Buzz Peterson, Charlotte’s assistant general manager whose college coaching stops included Tulsa and Tennessee. “ spoke about all his players at Arkansas, and Nick was one of them, and he spoke very highly of him.” Musselman previously was an NBA head coach with the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings and an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies. Kupchak said he spoke about Smith with Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman, who was coach of the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA Developmental League team - the D-Fenders - when Kupchak was the Lakers’ general manager. “He missed some time this year with an injury, and we looked into it, and we feel comfortable,” Kupchak said. Kupchak said Smith’s knee management didn’t impact the decision to draft him in the first round. “It’s not going to affect me anymore,” Smith said Thursday night when asked about the knee injury. Smith played in the Red-White game and the Razorbacks’ two exhibition games, but then missed the first five regular-season games.Īfter returning and playing in six games, Smith’s knee again became an issue and he missed 12 games before coming back a second time to play the final 11 as Arkansas advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season. More from WholeHogSports: It's Magic: Black highlights big night for Hogs in Brooklyn Smith was USA Today’s national high school player of the year after he averaged 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game as a senior in leading North Little Rock to the Class 6A state championship in 2022.ĭuring the last of Arkansas’ four exhibition games in Europe last August, Smith did something to his right knee, but the exact injury never was revealed by Smith or Arkansas. “Nick Smith we had much higher in the draft,” Kupchak said when he met with Charlotte media after the draft. Mitch Kupchak, the Hornets’ general manager, said Charlotte’s draft team had Smith ranked among the top 16 picks. I’m thankful they believed in me, and I’m just ready to get to work.” “Charlotte was willing to take a chance on me. “But I also understand this game is a business. “I’m coming in with a big chip, for sure,” Smith said. Smith, 19, was asked in a video conference with Charlotte media members how much of a chip he is carrying on his shoulder entering his rookie season with the Hornets to show he deserved to be chosen higher. 27 pick by the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night. Moore just completed his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.īlack averaged 13.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.2 steals for the Chargers in his final year.īlack's signing with Charlotte makes him the fifth player with roots in North Carolina high school basketball to either be drafted or sign with an NBA team this week.FAYETTEVILLE - Before a knee injury impacted Nick Smith’s freshman season at the University of Arkansas, the 6-5 guard from Jacksonville was projected by many analysts as a top-five pick in the NBA Draft.īut after Smith was limited to playing in 17 of the Razorbacks’ 36 games because of what was called right knee “management,” he dropped to the No. High School Athletic Association 3A title (which was the second in a row for Cox Mill). When he returned home his senior year, Black played across town at Cox Mil l, where he teamed up with future Duke and first round draft pick Wendell Moore to win the N.C. As it turns out, that was the only time thus far in Black's high school, college, or pro where he's been on a team outside of North Carolina. In high school, Black played his first two years at Concord High before spending his junior season at Montverde Academy (an athletic training institution in Florida).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |