Catching Up with SC 2022 PF Perry Smith Jr. 

Perry Smith Jr. is a high level forward that has a great inside-out game in the SC 2022 class. Smith Jr. is a high major talent that finishes very well at the rim. He has the ability to stretch the floor and make shots but does most of his damage around the rim. Smith Jr. is a great athlete with good hands and will consistently go grab several rebounds each game. The Legacy Early College sophomore currently holds offers from Texas A&M, TCU, LSU, Nebraska, and DePaul with a lot of other schools heavily interested. Perry has been exceptional on the Big Shots Circuit and was named MVP of the Big Shots SC Top 150 last year.  

We had a chance to catch up with Perry Smith Jr. and hear more about his recruitment, what he is looking for in a school, and his development as a player.

Question: How has the recruiting process been and which schools are showing you the most interest? 

Perry Smith Jr: “The recruitment process has been great to be getting recruited by so many college coaches is a blessing. The school that is recruiting me the most is Texas A&M. I also talked to Marquette as well.” 

Question: What qualities are you looking for in your potential college coach and program? 

Smith Jr: “I’m looking for a coach that is going to hold me accountable and that is going to push me to be the best player on the court and off the court.  I love playing in a family atmosphere, so I would love to play in a program where there is a bond between the players, coaches and the community. I want to be able to make an immediate impact wherever I go, make players around me better and ultimately win a National Championship.”

Question: How would you describe your game on the court? 

Smith Jr: “I’m an athletic SF that likes to get to the rim and play through contact. I’m a high level defender and shot blocker. I’m able to hit the mid-range and play above the rim. I play with a high level of intensity during the game.  My mindset is to put the team in the best position to win, so I do whatever is needed to accomplish that goal.” 

Question: In what areas of your game would you like to improve as you prepare for the next level? 

Perry Jr: “I’m improving my midrange and long range game everyday in the gym and also working on creating off the  dribble. So, definitely getting stronger and faster is a goal that I focus on daily.  I have seen major improvements physically but I’m still working. Also, just being an overall student of the game. Playing the game of basketball is not complicated to me because I have been playing all of my life.  But, I understand that there is more to it and I want to learn as much as I can to be the best.”

Question: Who is your favorite player to study and why?

Perry Jr: “My favorite player to study is Paul George because he plays my position at the same size and  can play on both ends of the court. I have also been studying Michael Jordan’s midrange game because I believe he had the best midrange game.  I definitely feel like there is something to learn from studying the best.”

Question: How has playing in Big Shots events helped your player development and recruitment?

Perry Jr: “Big Shots has always been a great supporter of me since my first tournament. They have helped my recruitment by always recognizing me in their write ups during events in their aau tournaments and high school tournaments.  They have provided feedback to me during workouts at their events and I appreciate that.” 

We look forward to keeping up with Perry and continuing to follow his progression as a very talented player in SC’s 2022 class.