At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today’s edition will highlight Mason Smith of Davidson Day.
We’ve seen Smith blossom over the years, previously stating, “Typically, when we talk about elite marksmen, we tend to focus more on guards. This makes sense, as (historically) smaller guards are granted the freedom and liberty to take more perimeter jumpers than someone with size. However, the 6-foot-7 Smith deserves to be regarded amongst the top shooters throughout North Carolina—regardless of class or position. We’d seen him previously with Hough, where he showcased a smooth, versatile, inside-out offensive game. He displayed the ability to effectively coexist alongside another big man and exploit mismatches in a calculated manner. After a quality junior year, Smith has been turning heads quite regularly during the current travel ball season. He recently joined Team Charlotte and decided to transfer to Davidson Day—where he’s already asserted himself as a clear leader for this group. Either way, Smith was one of the top performers over the past weekend. He knocked down jumpers at a high volume and percentage while playing around the basket, attacking off the bounce, and setting up others. Smith also consistently secured rebounds, battled defensively, and got to his spots in transition. Clearly a scholarship-worthy prospect, it’ll be interesting to see how his recruitment unfolds over these next few months—as countless programs should be getting involved.”
Now that he’s decommitted from Mercer, Smith should be an incredibly desirable commodity for a variety of different programs. The appeal of a 6-foot-7 knockdown shooter with ball skills, vision, and ability off the bounce should be pretty self-explanatory. Smith is one of the best shooters in the Carolinas, regardless of size, and just won a state championship as a focal point for Davidson Day. He’s also a reliable defender and willing rebounder. Smith is capable of doing a lot of useful things, but his ability to knock down three-pointers at a high percentage will be his calling card at the next level. Don’t be surprised if he’s even more coveted than before.
