Hogs’ Nick Smith gets top player honor from USA TODAY

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Incoming Arkansas freshman Nick Smith was tabbed the USA TODAY National High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Fellow Razorback Derrian Ford was one of 24 finalists up for the award as well.

According to USA TODAY:

“Smith masterfully used his 6-foot-5 frame to create scoring angles and size mismatches during North Little Rock’s run to the Class 6A state championship. He was at his best in the state final, dropping 25 points. The centerpiece of Arkansas’s No. 1 rated recruiting class in the nation, Smith’s NBA Draft prospects are on the rise.”

Smith, a consensus national top-three recruit, was also selected the No. 1 overall prospect in the country by 247Sports.com, the top-rated point guard in the country by Rivals.com and the top-rated shooting guard in the nation by ESPN.com.

He was a McDonald’s All-American and was named co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic.

Both NBADraftRoom.com and ESPN.com currently list Smith as the first collegiate player (third overall) selected on their 2023 NBA mock drafts.

CBSSports.com also has Smith as the top collegiate player but No. 4 overall.

Fellow signee Anthony Black is currently the No. 5 overall pick for 2023 by NBADraftRoom.com and No. 9 by CBSSports.com while ESPN lists him as the No. 12 selection.

The Hogs’ Jordan Walsh is listed  at No. 21. He is the projected No. 22 pick by CBSSports.com

Smith was a two-time MaxPreps Arkansas High School Player of the Year and a two-time Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Player of the Year.

Smith joins Corliss Williamson as the only Razorbacks to be selected a national high school player of the year. Williamson earned the honor in 1992 as selected by Gatorade.

Information from Arkansas Communications

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CHICAGO — Arkansas will open the 2022 Maui Jim Maui Invitational versus Louisville, it was announced today along with the complete tournament bracket.

The Razorbacks and Cardinals will play on Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

The 2022 Maui Jim Maui Invitational is back in Hawaii after two years on the mainland due to COVID and returns to the iconic Lahaina Civic Center this Nov. 21-23.

The other matchup will feature Texas Tech squaring off against Creighton prior to the Arkansas-Louisville contest.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Ohio State will face San Diego State, and Cincinnati will go head-to-head against Arizona.

All 12 games of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, and also available on the ESPN App.

The Maui Jim Maui Invitational has become synonymous with buzzer beater finishes and epic upsets, setting the tone for the trajectory of these top programs and the season as a whole.

The teams that have participated throughout the event’s history own 70 of the 82 NCAA Championships.

Seven schools have gone on to win the National Championship after competing in Maui earlier that season.

Six of this year’s eight programs made the 2021-22 NCAA tournament, with Texas Tech and Arizona advancing to the Sweet 16 and Arkansas making it to the Elite Eight.

Arizona and Cincinnati are also two of the top 12 all-time winningest schools in NCAA history, while Louisville (39), Arkansas (34), Ohio State (31), and Creighton (23) are in the top 50 nationally for most NCAA Tournament appearances.

Additionally, San Diego State is coming off back-to-back NCAA March Madness selections with plans to keep that momentum going.

This year’s field also features six teams that will be making a return appearance in Maui while Creighton and Texas Tech will be making their first-ever appearance.

Arizona is the only returning program to have earned a Maui Jim Maui Invitational Championship Title, having done so in 2000 and 2014.

Matchup History
Texas Tech vs. Creighton
Series record: Creighton leads 3-1
Last matchup: Nov. 29, 2019 (Creighton 83, Texas Tech 76)
Notes: Both Texas Tech and Creighton will be making their inaugural appearance at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational in 2022.

Louisville vs. Arkansas
Series Record: Louisville leads 4-3
Last Matchup: Nov. 17, 2009 (Louisville 96, Arkansas 66)
Notes: Louisville will be making its fourth appearance at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational following the 1989, 2000 and 2004 Tournaments. The Cardinals rank in the top 10 nationally for all-time NCAA Tournament wins holding 61 victories. This year will be Arkansas’ fourth appearance in the Tournament following the 1991, 2005, 2013 Tournaments. The Hogs have earned 33 NCAA Tournament berths, have advanced to the Elite Eight in back-to-back years, while also owning the 1994 NCAA Championship Title.

San Diego State vs. Ohio State
Series record: San Diego State leads 2-1
Last matchup: Nov 11, 2003 (San Diego State 83, Ohio State 61)
Notes: San Diego State will make its fifth appearance at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational following participation in the 1989, 2003, 2014 and 2018 Tournaments. Ohio State is returning to the Tournament for its fourth appearance, its first since 2003. The Buckeyes also participated in the 1993 and 1988 Tournaments.

Arizona vs. Cincinnati
Series Record:
Arizona leads 2-0
Last Matchup: Feb. 11, 1996 (Arizona 79, Cincinnati 76)
Notes: The 2022 Tournament will be the Wildcats’ eighth trip to Maui following their appearances in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2014 and 2018. Arizona holds a 14-8 record at the Tournament, including Championship Titles in 2000 and 2014. Cincinnati is making its second appearance, having previously appeared in 2009.

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