As you could expect, there were multiple NBA scouts in attendance on Saturday at the KFC Yum Center for the Louisville – Syracuse match-up. One of the veteran NBA scouts spoke with Adam Zagoria of SNY.TV following the game. Here is his evaluation of Russ Smith’s performance.
**Russ Smith, Louisville (25 points, 4 steals)
Scout’s take: ”Russ Smith is shooting up the charts. He’s a tough, quick, little guy who shoots it straight. He brings great ball pressure. He’s Brooklyn-tough, cat-quick. He gets wherever he wants on the floor. He can push the ball. I think he’s intelligent enough when he gets to the NBA, he knows he’s gotta give the ball up.”
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Two years ago I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that Russ Smith would be an NBA prospect, but at this point it’s hard to argue that he’s not the best pro prospect for Louisville. Russ does things that you simply can’t teach. I doubt he’ll receive a high enough draft evaluation to leave after his junior season, but consider this will be a very weak NBA draft, it’s certainly a possibility that he would be drafted in 2013.
January 22, 2013 at 11:08 am
Lets hope that he sticks around to lead the team next year and get an even better shot at the NBA 2014.
January 22, 2013 at 12:32 pm
I think it depends on how far we go, if this team is cutting down the nets in April and Russ is getting 20 ppg (which is possible)…… I can’t see that his stock could be any higher by coming back another year. It’s insane that we are having this conversation but one of the toughest things to do is to “get buckets” and Russ gets buckets!
January 22, 2013 at 7:40 pm
now is the time for him to go he will be a plus where ever he lands! he is fast an not afraid to take the bigg shot like most so-called star player today in the nba!.oooh an don’t forget he knows how to find the man in the paint,on the side @ the three where ever while on the move.