Go to Wisconsin Basketball Recruiting Hub >>
Class | Position | Height | Weight | |
2017 | SF | 6'6" | 185 lb | |
School | AAU | |||
Lincolnshire (IL) Stevenson HS | Mac Irvin Fire |
Rankings
Rivals: (#17 SF / #105 overall)
Scout: (#20 SF / #91 overall)
ESPN: 83 (#18 SF / #80 overall)
24/7: 94 SF (#17 PF / #69 overall)
City/Suburban Hoops Report: #3 player in 2017 in Illinois
Last Updated: Sept. 30, 2016
Previous Rankings: 4-star (#18 SF/#104 overall) > 3-star (#23/#123) > 4-star (#21/#110) by Rivals; 4-star (#18 SF/#76 overall > #21/#99) > 3-star (#23 PF/#118) by Scout; 4-star/84 (#16 SF/#76 overall) > 4-star/87 (#17 SF) by ESPN; 4-star/95 SF (#15 PF/#59 overall) > #93 SF (#19 PF/#87 overall) > 95 (#12 SF/#49 overall) > 4-star (#14 PF) by 24/7; #4 > #3 > #2 > #3 player in IL by City/Suburban Hoops Report
Rankings at time of commitment: 4-star (0.9658) by 24/7 Composite, #17 SF/#76 overall/#4 in IL; 4-star by Rivals, Scout & ESPN
Honors
2017 First Team All-State - 3A/4A (IBCA)
2016 Honorable Mention All-State - 4A (AP)
2016 Second Team All-State - 3A/4A (IBCA)
2016 First Team All- Area (Pioneer Press)
Statistics
2016: **IN PROGRESS** EYBL
2015-16: Junior (Stevenson)
2015: 7.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 44% FGs, 22% 3FGs, 91% FTs | EYBL
2014-15: 10.3 ppg, 4 rpg | Sophomore (Stevenson)
2013-14: Freshman (Stevenson)
Verbally committed to Indiana
Not long ago Smith was considered a superb wing athlete with a solid (and improving) spot-up jumper. But this spring, Smith lit it up and his game started catching up to his rankings. He starred at the NBPA Top 100 camp in Charlottesville and was named a camp all-star. Former Wisconsin assistant Gary Close checked out Smith last summer on the AAU circuit after the staff started making regular contact in the spring. After his unofficial visit to UW in October at which he received an offer from the Badgers, Smith claimed offers from DePaul, Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, Rice, Stanford and Wake Forest. He also was receiving interest from Georgetown, Florida, Florida State, Iowa, and Virginia.
Wisconsin typically doesn't triumph when recruiting head-to-head with the Illini for an Illinois kid, and even more rare that a player in the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program gets steered to an Adidas school -- though Smith did play 15U ball with the UW-friendly Illinois Wolves. Though his parents are both Illinois alums, Smith made a couple early visits to Madison, including coming to a camp two years ago. However, he teamed up with Villanova's Jalen Brunson to capture a state title at Stevenson as a sophomore. Smith's recruitment really picked up heading into his junior year and when Villanova finally hopped into his recruitment, it was added pressure for the other schools involved.
Despite the desire to hold open slots for the 2018 class, Wisconsin continued to recruit Smith and gauge his interest. The Badgers made Smith's first pared down list of school choices. But once UW received an oral commitment from Tyler Herro in 2018, the available scholarships shrunk to one. Smith moved on to his four finalists. Indiana continued coming at Smith the hardest, alongside Xavier, Notre Dame and others, and eventually won the recruitment over Villanova.
Recent Press
Related articles on Bucky's 5th Quarter >>
2016
09.29: Stevenson's Justin Smith looked up to teammates before choosing Indiana (Chicago Tribune)
09.26: Top 100 forward Justin Smith commits to IU basketball (Indianapolis Star)
08.22: Recruiting stretch run begins for top uncommitted prospects (Sun-Times)
07.19: All-Rivals Team: Best players from second live period (Rivals)
05.04: Recruitment continues to grow for 2017 wing Justin Smith (Inside The Hall)
2015
05.26: Justin Smith planning June visit to Indiana (Inside The Hall)
05.19: Stevenson's Justin Smith ready for lead role (Chicago Tribune)
04.16: Next season's top juniors (Sun-Times)
03.22: A first for Stevenson (Daily Herald)
03.18: Stevenson earns return engagement downstate (Daily Herald)
2013
10.18: Justin Smith is Next at Stevenson (ChicagoHoops.com)
Audio / Video
Highlights: Nojel Eastern vs Justin Smith 2 Illinois Top Prospects Go at it! (06.08.16)
Highlights: Justin Smith at the 2016 NY2LA Swich N' Dish (04.05.16)
Interview: Justin Smith Swish N Dish (04.02.16)
Highlights: High Flying Justin Smith Shows Out at Riverside Brookfield Shootout! (06.28.15)
Highlights: Highlights: Justin Smith (05.26.15)
Highlights: Athletic 10th Grader Justin Smith Takes Off, Wins State Title! (04.16.15)
Highlights: Justin Smith (2017) Stevenson HS Mixtape (01.30.15)
Highlights: #23 Justin Smith - Stevenson High School Class of 2017 (04.28.14)
Additional Info
2016-17 Schedule | Chicago Tribune | Sun-Times | Daily Herald
Twitter: @justinsmith3_