Nick Smith Jr. receives scholarship offer from Kentucky

Jack Pilgrim/KSR

Make that three offers following the Kentucky coaching staff’s Peach Jam evaluations.

After extending scholarships to Kyle Filipowski and Cason Wallace in recent days, Kentucky handed another out Sunday evening, with 2022 five-star guard Nick Smith Jr. becoming the 11th player in the class to earn an offer.

Smith joins Skyy Clark (committed), Jaden Bradley, Keyonte George, Shaedon Sharpe, Chris Livingston, Brandon Miller, Jalen Duren, Dereck Lively II, Filipowski and Wallace to hold scholarships from UK.

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The five-star guard also holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgetown, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Florida, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Oregon and Texas, among others.

Smith is listed as the No. 20 overall prospect in the latest 247Sports player rankings, with ESPN listing him at No. 37 overall and Rivals listing him at No. 39 overall.

Kentucky’s offer comes after a brilliant performance by Smith at Peach Jam, with the 6-foot-4, 185-pound combo guard averaging 17.6 points (49.2% FG, 37.5% 3PT), 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest in 15 total games. UK was in attendance for each of the Sherwood, AR native’s games during both evaluation periods at Peach Jam, with at least two coaches sitting courtside at all times.

His biggest performance came in Sunday’s Peach Jam title matchup against Team Final, with the prized recruiting target putting up 31 points on 10-18 shooting to go with one rebound, one assist, one steal and one block.

Just hours later, Smith had his offer from Kentucky, one he had been waiting quite some time for.

“Me and (UK assistant Jai Lucas) are pretty cool, he’s a pretty cool dude,” Smith told KSR back in April. “They’re very serious about their program, and I like that because I’m a very serious guy. I feel like Coach Cal just builds pros, you know what I’m saying? It’s just a great system.”

In terms of what the five-star guard is looking for in a college, Smith tells KSR he values “family and loyalty” above all else.

“I’m big on family and loyalty, just sticking with me through thick and thin,” he said. “If you stick with me, you know I’m going to stick with you, also. Just a family vibe, sticking together, playing great basketball, that’s really all I’m looking for.”

The newest UK target is scheduled to make a final decision on November 20.

Check out some of Smith’s most recent highlights:

Come on down.