UCLA Target for 2010: Josh Smith 6-10 270 C

Vid cred ballislife.com

Josh Smith
Hometown Covington, WA
High School Kentwood High School
Ranked #10 High School player Class of 2010
Position rank Center # 1
Height 6'10"
Weight 270 lbs.

Scouts, Inc.-ESPN College Men's Basketball Recruiting
Evaluation

June, 2009: Smith is the most promising post prospect in the west for the class of 2010. Although his game hasn't improved much since last summer his frame is enormous and he is quite quick off the floor as well. He is still carrying too much weight since I saw him last (Adidas Nations in April) and that is definitely affecting his game. There were many times he struggled at the rim (Rose City Showcase) and actually fell to the floor a quite a few times despite outweighing his opponent by a significant amount. He needs to have better leverage (bend his knees) and finish with a greater urgency-it's surprising he doesn't get more 3-point plays considering his size and agility. In addition, he needs to improve his free throw shooting. He has nice rotation on his release, but his shot is quite flat. Like most bigs, he does have much to improve on, but he has natural instincts for this game that can't be easily acquired. He is a very good passer from the post and usually makes great decisions. His shot blocking ability is also very impressive (more...).


Mike LaPlante, Scouts Inc., ESPN.com
"Smith is a load in the low block area who has good feet and knows how to use his body to create space. He has great hands with a soft touch around the basket and has shown he can be a go-to scorer. However, he needs to develop a dominant attitude and a more consistent work ethic if he wants to reach his potential."