LJ Smith: Ohio State's Rising Star

LJ Smith, a five-star combo guard from Ohio States 2027 class, has been making waves in the basketball world. Standing at six feet four inches and weighing 180 pounds, Smith has earned his five-star status from 247 Sports, ranking him at number twenty-three overall in their composite rankings. He committed to the Buckeyes in November, drawn by their family vibe and player development. In his recent season at Oak Hill Academy, Smith averaged 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 39% from beyond the arc. He led his team in minutes, playing an average of 30.8 per game. Before transferring, Smith broke North Carolina high school records as a sophomore, averaging 33.1 points per game. Smiths impressive performance has earned him comparisons to DAngelo Russell, Ohio States top-rated guard commit since 2014. Russell was ranked number sixteen in his class and went on to become Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. Smiths stock is also rising, with ESPN ranking him as high as number eight. Smiths summer stint with Team Thad on the Nike EYBL circuit further solidified his status as a top prospect, averaging 14.1 points and shooting 42% from three. Despite the departure of former assistant coach Joel Justus to Vanderbilt, Smith remains committed to Ohio State, with no signs of flipping. Buckeye fans are excited about Smiths potential, with many dreaming of a bright future for Columbus hoops. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/26098a39a7da0f34