What a weekend it was at the Phenom Stay Positive, as we had a great opportunity to check out and remind ourselves of talent around the area. One player who gave us a surprise and had the pleasure of watching was 2026 Chaise Smith with East Carolina Elite.
Smith is one of the premier guards in the state of North Carolina for his class, and he showed that this past season at Washington in which he averaged 19.5ppg, 4.7rpg, and 6.4 apg. The 6’2 guard has garnered several comparisons, including one many are familiar with in Terquavion Smith. You can see flashes of that but when truly watching him operate on the court, you can see that his game is much more than that.
Smith continues to flourish as a scorer on the court; he can knock down shots, has good range with his game, can score off the bounce, and has good athleticism in his ability to finish at the rim. But watching him more, our scouts agree that he makes such an impact on an array of other ways. His ability to flourish as a creator, a willing passer, and impact on the boards and defensively doesn’t always get recognized as much as they should, but he showed that over the weekend. Smith impressed with his on-point passes, his court awareness, his activity and willingness to be active defensively, and use his athleticism and quickness to his advantage.
Smith has a smooth overall feel and though he impresses offensively, his game is much more than that and it is time to recognize that more. One of the state’s premier guards, Smith should have a strong summer and future, as college coaches start taking more of a notice his way.
What Was Said:
“Although he’s an exceptional scorer, 6’2 ‘26 Chaise Smith (East Carolina Elite) has really impressed with his passing and defense here. Scoring whenever he desires but mainly looking to create for others. Explosive, quick-twitch athlete with terrific feel.”
“2026 Chaise Smith (East Carolina Elite) continues to impress with his showing today. Wired to score and create, along with bringing tremendous athleticism, he was also able to show his ability to find teammates well.”
“6’2 ‘26 Chaise Smith (East Carolina Elite) just makes the game look easy. He’s a phenomenal athlete with an extremely smooth, polished skillset. Gets wherever he wants as a creator, makes excellent decisions, and scores from all levels. Sharp playmaker.”