Balancing act: Arkansas signee Nick Smith Jr. tries to be a teenager while balancing the business of basketball and winning an elusive state championship

By Nate Olson I Photos Tommy Land 

Nick Smith Jr. faces a dilemma daily that most teenagers would love to have or at least think they would. 

At 17, the North Little Rock basketball star and University of Arkansas signee must balance the prospects of possibly being a millionaire soon while also trying to enjoy his senior year of high school.

“I grew up to be the way I am now,” Smith said. “I grew up around older dudes. Sometimes I do like to do stuff that kids should do, but at the same time I know what is at stake with my career. I just try to do everything the right way and set myself up for the future.” 

After almost not being cleared to play for the Charging Wildcats following his transfer from Sylvan Hills High School, just up the road in Sherwood, the season has gone the way most thought it would. Smith, the No. 6-ranked senior prospect in the ESPN Top 100, and fellow McDonald’s All-American center Kel’el Ware, along with another Sylvan Hills transfer, Corey Washington, have dominated opponents, racking up a 25-3 record heading to Thursday night’s Class 6A state championship game against Bentonville, a heavy underdog.

“If I win a state championship, I feel like that will complete my high school basketball legacy,” he said. “I have pretty much had every accolade other than Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year, but I don’t have a state title, yet, so people are going to say, ‘He has all of these individual awards, but he doesn’t have a state title.’”

Standing up 

Smith, a 6-foot-4, 185-pounder, can handle the pressure on the basketball court. He’s been working out at 5:30 a.m. regularly since eighth grade to compete at the highest level. But it was controversy that unfolded off the court before NLR played its first game that might have been the biggest challenge and made him grow up a little quicker.

In late October, the Arkansas Activities Association revealed another school had reported a violation involving Smith. After handing the case over to NLR to investigate, the district self-reported the violation, leading to Smith losing his eligibility.

Two trainers who worked with Smith since middle school had volunteered with the Charging Wildcats program but left the team in March of 2021, well before Smith enrolled in July. NLR didn’t complete the paperwork disclosing two trainers, which led to the infraction. 

Page 35 and section E of the AAA handbook, which reads, "A student transferring, moving, or for any reason attending a new school where the student's non-school coach is a school coach, or is anyone assisting in any capacity with the coaching or training of the school team, is presumed to be attending for athletic purposes if the student participated in athletics the previous year."

The Smith family was confident they had done their due diligence and followed all protocols that would allow Smith to be immediately eligible at NLR. 

Smith was steadfast in his innocence on both social media and television interviews.

“You never really expect a situation like that. First, it should have never happened,” he said. “At the same time, you always have to mentally prepare yourself for situations like those moments not knowing what’s going to happen during that time.” 

Even knowing he’d told the truth, Smith was preparing himself for the reality that he might not suit up with the Charging Wildcats and the teammates he had already forged a bond with since workouts began in August.

“I was [worried about ineligibility], but at the same time, my dad was talking and saying, ‘Everything happens for a reason. If you can’t play here, you just weren’t meant to play here.’ At the same time, I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t want to get up and have someone else make a decision for me. A lot of people go through these situations and do what they tell you to do. For me, I have never been that type of guy anyway. I just tried to do what I could. I’m here now, so ...”

Smith was never in danger of not playing this season, but he wanted to play at North Little Rock and not at an out-of-state prep school. 

“Some kids who have eligibility questions or problems don’t have any options,” NLR head coach Johnny Rice said. “Nick could have gone to any prep school in the country, and they’d take care of him. His family moved [to North Little Rock], and he really wanted to play in the state where his family could watch him play, so that says a lot. They did it the right way and fought it.”

Eventually, the two schools’ superintendents signed a Changing Schools/Athletic Participation [CSAP] document as per AAA rule Section G "stating that the student was not recruited and did not change schools for athletic purposes, must be signed prior to participation by the superintendent or designated administrator of the previous school, the superintendent or designated administrator of the new school, and the parent[s] or legal guardian[s], witnessed by the new [receiving] school's administrator or a notary public."

The maturity Smith showed while answering critics on social media and maintaining his stance stood out to Rice, the longtime coach who has coached a long list of star players.

“He was telling the truth,” Rice said. “We held him back on the front end on the allegations and questions and all of that stuff, and then it got a point where it wasn’t fair to do that. He told it exactly the way it was.

“He is a kid who has always had cameras and microphones in his face a lot. It isn’t foreign to him, so I felt comfortable with him addressing it. I’m proud of him that he continued to fight it and didn’t give up.” 

Even now, months after the incident, with a state title game looming, the subject elicits a certain stress mixed with relief.

“We are not the type of family who takes what you give us” Smith’s father, Nick Smith Sr., said. “He could have played at a national level, but he wanted to play in front of Hogs fans and his family. We were thankful and happy for the outcome and ultimately moved past that on to greener pastures.”

Just Nick the kid

Before Smith even attended classes at his new school, he’d heard whispers about him being aloof and unapproachable. 

To a degree, the national publicity generated by the October announcement probably didn’t do anything to convince some students that Smith “is a normal kid,” but inside the school walls and in the locker room Smith’s mission was to prove that.

“I’m still a regular teenager,” Smith said. “A lot of people just see all the social media stuff, but if you ask anybody around me or Coach Rice, they will tell you I’m just a regular kid.

“That is how I want people to look at me: I’m a regular kid,” he said. “Honestly, I am one of the coolest guys you’ll ever meet, especially if you get to know me. I am very chill. I like to crack jokes and just be around people. I like to have fun.”

Washington, whose recruiting stock has risen this season, knows Smith the best, meeting him when the two were in eighth grade at Sylvan Hills.

“Off the court he is the same person I knew in eighth grade,” Washington said. “Everybody loved him at Sylvan Hills, and they love him [at North Little Rock]. I know that when he makes it big, he won’t forget who he came from and the people here.”

But try as he might to blend in, it isn’t always easy. Places kids his age frequent such as the bowling alley and restaurants have been difficult to visit since he is recognized and approached by Hogs fans.

“For me, it’s been a culture shock that I can’t really do some of the things I’d like to do … Well, I can still do it, but I have to keep it at a certain level,” Smith said. “Everywhere I go, people are going to know me.” 

Smith says he enjoys meeting fans and signing autographs for kids, even tweeting to fans in Northwest Arkansas to come watch the Charging Wildcats play and stay after to meet at a game at Fort Smith Northside. Still, it’s been an adjustment to deal with the celebrity in day-to-day life activities.

“He’s very professional and by far he is the most high-profile player I have had, and I have had some high-profile ones,” Rice said. “He’s had national media requests with the big ones like Slam and Bleacher Report and signs autographs before and after games. He’s really good at it and embraces that.

“I told him with that, comes a lot of responsibility in your play, and to play hard and not just play good because you can’t do that every night. But you can play hard every night. That’s never an issue with Nick – competing.”

The elder Smith is pleased with how his son has kept the fame in perspective.

“It doesn’t go to his head,” he said. “Six months ago, he was not getting these kinds of accolades, so it is fairly new to him, and he hasn’t dealt with it for a long time. He has handled it well.” 

Smith has tried to keep his senior year as normal as possible because he understands youth is fleeting.

“It is very important because I am 17 now, and I am only going to be 17 one time and 18 one time,” he said. “As you grow up, you know you have to pay bills and all of that other stuff, so I am just trying to enjoy being a ‘so-called’ kid. But I kind of look at myself as an older young adult just because of the simple fact, I have a lot of responsibility.”

The business side

Being the parent of a superstar athlete on the brink of national stardom isn’t easy, either. The elder Smith and his wife, Candace, have handled marketing duties for their son. As Smith moves on to college and possibly the NBA, things such as social media and branding are important. The Smiths help with those responsibilities. 

“His mother and I handle the behind-the-scenes work,” the elder Smith said. “Nick only focuses on basketball. He has a goal to play at a high level and is working on that, so we handle behind-the-scenes stuff. There are a lot of high expectations, and the pressure can be a lot for a player, but I think we have done a pretty good job, and he has enjoyed himself focusing on things like basketball and grades and being a kid. He’s a good kid. I pray for Nick. I am just thankful to be blessed with a kid, actually three kids, that enjoy the game as much as I do.”

Smith is appreciative of his parents’ active role in his business affairs.

“My dad does a lot of that stuff, and I have a lot of agencies trying to come at me right now,” he said. “But I am not really worried about that stuff right now. I’ve been focusing on the high school season and just trying to get a ring. My dad and other people have been doing [marketing] for me, and they are making the right moves. A lot of people don’t know what I’ve got going on behind the scenes. They just see the basketball part. I try to keep those separate.”

Smith is active on social media and used that as his main platform to interact with the public during the time his eligibility was in question. 

To put Smith’s notoriety in perspective, he has nearly 14,000 twitter followers. In a state that is football crazy, top Arkansas football recruit and national track star Isaiah Sategna has just under 7,000 followers. Former Arkansas star receiver Treylon Burks, who is projected to be picked in the first round of next month’s NFL draft, only has around 5,000 more followers than Smith.

Smith’s team knows that social media stats are important for impending Name, Image and Likeness deals that will begin to filter in when he enrolls at Arkansas as well as when he begins an NBA career (at least one draft expert has picked him to go in the top three of the 2023 NBA draft).

“Marketing is way bigger than basketball,” Smith said. 

And because of social media and the marketing climate of this time, Smith might be the highest-profile athlete in Arkansas history, even bigger than Darren McFadden, the Hogs legendary running back, who was one of the top collegiate players for two seasons and went on to play in the NFL.

“When Darren McFadden was growing up, [social media] was way different,” Smith said. “Now, everything revolves around social media. Sometimes, I just catch myself in that type of stuff, but sometimes I try to remove myself so I can focus.”

There’s a good chance Smith’s brand will be the most popular one at Arkansas in its short lifespan of NIL. After that, maybe a chance for millions depending on how things go on the hardwood with the Hogs. For now, it’s just about preparation.

“At this point in my life, it really isn’t about the money, it’s about the investments and being in the right situation to do good business,” he said. “The money is going to come. But I know if I keep doing what I’m doing, I am going to get paid.”

On the court

It didn’t take Smith long to warm up to Rice and his new teammates. That was the main reason he wouldn’t accept his ineligibility status.

“When I got here, I knew we were going to be a special team,” Smith said. “With Coach Rice and his coaching staff … I should have been here in the first place through my high school career, but I didn’t want to just get up and leave. I had Kel’el [Ware] here with me and Corey [Washington] here with me and Tyler [Frederick] here with me. It just didn’t make sense for me to pick up and leave. At the same time, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I knew it was going to be a special team. I knew the state of Arkansas was going to key into us, and we were going to have a lot of expectations, but at the same time I just tried to come in here and compete. We have our own goals, and we are trying to finish that.”

What has happened is the Charging Wildcats have made a case as the most dominant team in Arkansas prep boys basketball history. They played an ambitious national schedule – the likes that hasn’t been seen in the state previously.

While competing in the prestigious City of Palms tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Charging Wildcats gained a national reputation when they beat Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) and competed with the prestigious IMG Academy. The only losses came to IMG and Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale) in Florida and Jonesboro, on its floor during an early-season tournament.

NLR, which is ranked No. 12 in the SBLive/SI Power 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings, won the King Bracket of the King Cotton Classic in nearby Pine Bluff, knocking off Texas power Beaumont United, which has three losses in two seasons.

They then finished as the undefeated 6A-Central Conference champions with only one real close call – an overtime victory against Little Rock Central that Smith had to win on a dazzling, spinning jumper as time ran out. 

“We have worked hard since and have had a lot of ups and downs, but I am impressed that when we went through those times where we didn’t know what was going on and the guys who weren’t used to that pressure, and even myself, I wasn’t kind of ready for it because I didn’t know it was going to be like that, but I am impressed that we handled ourselves and just played basketball.

“We trusted Coach Rice’s system and just played basketball and played for one another.”

Smith has more than done his part, averaging 26.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

“It is good playing with Nick because he is a guard that can dribble and space the floor,” said Ware, who is among the top big men in the nation. “He can get open, and he can get other people open.”

Rice said Smith leads vocally and by example.

“He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever had,” Rice said. “He doesn’t take one practice, one drill or one rep off,” Rice said. “When we have days off for weather or COVID, he finds a gym to get work done.”

In a season filled with highlights, one of the emotional moments came on senior night. Not just for the stars Smith, Washington and Ware. But for manager Joe Hofford, who suited up for the only game of his career. Hofford sank a three-pointer much to delight of Smith, who met Hofford two years ago at the gym he works out at in Little Rock. 

“That was the happiest time for me this season and a bit emotional seeing Nick so happy to see me getting in the game and making that three-pointer,” Hofford said.

Now, all the Charging Wildcats must do to cement one of the great all-time Arkansas prep seasons is beat a 22-8 Bentonville team, which lost five league games.

Said Smith: “It’s not fair to me or anybody who had a great season [to make judgements on not winning a state title], but that is obviously what people are going to say, but I am the type of person that will just try to prove them wrong.”

Fayetteville bound

Smith’s profile in the state was enhanced more when he chose Arkansas. Hogs fans had gotten used to the disappointment of seeing high-profile recruits such as Malik Monk and former NLR star KeVaughn All spurn Arkansas for out-of-state programs.

The smile on Smith’s face is all you need to know about how content he is with the decision and how much he’s enjoyed the reception from Hogs fans.

“It was the right fit,” he said. “Obviously, I feel like I could have gone anywhere and been a pro, but I felt like it was right for me business-wise and people love me here and [Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman] and his system is for guards like me – it was kind of a no-brainer.”

Ever the businessman, because the climate dictates that of rising stars, Musselman’s NBA pedigree was a major appeal.

“He has an NBA system,” Smith said. “That’s what I was looking for and after Peach Jam, the niche kind of changed for me for the simple fact because I was hurt and not a lot of people saw me play, but after Peach Jam, I kind of opened everybody’s eyes with the night I had in the championship game. It was kind of different after that.

“I talked to different coaches after that game, but I was talking to [Musselman], and he was saying ‘You’re the guy.’ He has said that ever since he started recruiting me. It just made sense.”

When he arrives on campus, he will also be reunited with a Jacksonville native — guard Davonte “Devo” Davis grew up with Smith in Jacksonville and played youth basketball on a team coached by the elder Smith.

“It’s going to be fun, just for the simple fact that we know each other, and I’m ready for the practices because I know that he’s not going, and I definitely know I’m not going, so playing against him every day and with him will be pretty fun,” Smith said. 

With this year’s team surviving a bumpy start and now looking at a seed as high as maybe No. 4 in the NCAA Tournament, expectations will be through the roof. Especially when you add the Hogs’ best recruiting class in program history, which includes three in-state recruits in ESPN’s Top 100 in Smith, Mangolia’s Derrian Ford (70) and Morrilton’s Joseph Pinion (89). Jordan Walsh of Link Year Academy (Branson, Mo.) is ranked 10th and Barry Dunning Jr. from Mobile, Ala. is ranked No. 75.

“For next year, we don’t know what is going to happen,” Smith said. “We haven’t even moved on campus yet. For people to say we are a Final Four team next year, I’d say that is completely false because we have never put on an Arkansas uniform, we have never practiced with [Musselman]. I have seen the practices but haven’t experienced them yet. We just have to go in and compete and win games.”

Moving on to major college basketball and the pressures it presents is all a part of Smith’s plan. But he hasn’t risen before the sun many mornings to shoot and work on his skills to acquire fame, fortune or status. He fell in love with the process and “just winning games.” He’s done that and dealt with the distractions and pressure that come with such success, and his plan is continuing to stay humble and grounded as he has during his eventful prep senior season.

“That’s just the life of being a high-profile guy,” Smith said. “I asked for it, so it’s cool with me. I’m not trippin’ on it.”