SEPTEMBER 2019 ■ 91
■ BASKETBALL RECRUITING
"Coach Keatts basically says I need to
play the way I play now, but get bigger,
stronger and faster if I go there," Smith
said. "I've been working on my visit there."
Smith has unofficially visited Louisville,
Georgia and Georgia Tech. He plans to
make official visits to Louisville, NC State
and Oregon, three of his top 10 schools. He
is also listing Mississippi State, Georgia,
Miami, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Florida
State and Mississippi.
"Those are the three I'd really to visit for
sure," he said. "Sometime in the next month
or two, I'll probably put together a top list."
Smith competed in the Los Angeles area
at the adidas Gauntlet Finale, but the event
wasn't open to college coaches. He helped
the Atlanta Celtics go 21-3 by averaging 14.8
points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Smith said he patterns his game off two of
the fastest guards to play in the NBA — for-
mer pro Allen Iverson and Washington Wiz-
ards point guard John Wall. He grew up more
of an NBA than college basketball fan, but is
starting to learn more about the college game
after blowing up this past winter in recruiting.
"I see myself playing a little bit like Al-
len Iverson," Smith said. "I can hit the mid-
range shots and get people involved and
finish through contact. I can push the ball."
Smith is aiming to improve his all-around
skills leading up to the start of his senior year.
"I want to be more of a leader and stay
in the gym and improve my jump shot even
more," Smith said. "I want to get bigger
and stronger." ■
For up-to-date updates on men's basketball
recruiting, please visit TheWolfapcker.com.
Deivon Smith — a speedy 6-0, 165-pound
point guard from Logansville (Ga.) Grayson —
has skyrocketed up the Rivals.com rankings
this spring and summer, going from unranked
to the nation's No. 44 overall player.
PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM/NICK LUCERO
