No. 3! Jabari Smith makes Auburn basketball history, selected third overall in NBA Draft
AUBURN – “Make history.”
It’s the signage and motto that has adorned the Auburn basketball locker room since Bruce Pearl arrived, and whew, as Pearl made history at Auburn.
The school’s first Final Four, two regular season conference titles, a conference tournament title, earning a No. 1 ranking in the AP poll, and now, the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft.
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Jabari Smith was selected by the Houston Rockets as the third overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft held in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday night. Smith is the highest draft pick in the history of the Auburn program.
Chuck Person and Chris Morris are currently Auburn’s highest-ever NBA Draft Picks. Both were selected No. 4 in 1986 and 1988 respectively. Charles Barkley and Isaac Okoro were selected No. 5 in 1984 and 2020.
Smith is the fourth “One and Done” player from Auburn to enter the draft after his freshman year next to Isaac Okoro in 2020 as well as Sharife Cooper and J.T. Thor in 2021.
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The 6-foot-10 Smith worked out with the Magic earlier this month. Smith was the consensus betting favorite to be selected first overall as of Wednesday night.
Everything seemed to change on Wednesday night and into Thursday. Rumblings turned into official word that Duke’s Paolo Banchero would be selected No. 1 overall to the Orlando Magic. Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren was selected No. 2 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Smith, 19, averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in his lone season at Auburn. He shot 43% from the field and 42% from 3-point range. Against teams that were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 when facing Auburn, Smith averaged 20.8 points and 6.4 rebounds.
ESPN’s analysis of Jabari Smith
From Jonathan Givony: He’s arguably the best shooter in the draft despite standing 6-foot-10 and is more than a full year younger than Holmgren, the No. 1 prospect on the ESPN Big Board. The intensity level and versatility Smith brings defensively will be attractive as well, along with the fact that he checks every box that NBA teams look for from a character and competitiveness standpoint.
