Senior guard on the Illini radar
Illinois assistant coach Jamall Walker was recently at Edwardsville (Ill.) high school to check on 2017 guard Mark Smith.
The 6-foot-4 Smith, who plays point guard at Edwardsville, is an emerging in-state talent who is putting up good numbers as a senior. As recruiting interest picks up, Smith named four schools the he has been hearing from.
“Kansas State, Illinois, DePaul, and Northwestern,” he said. “I have an offer from DePaul.”
Walker recruits the St. Louis Metro east area for the Illini, a region that has had an explosion of talent in recent years. The Illini have two 2017 signees on board from the area in Javon Pickett from Belleville East and Jeremiah Tilmon from East St. Louis.
The next step for the Illini staff is to watch Smith in a game during the season. Smith just spoke with Walker for the first time last week, and head coach John Groce could make a trip down to Edwardsville during the high school season.
“He said they are very interested in me,” Smith said. “He said they’re looking for another combo-guard. It was good conversation. He said Coach Groce will be down to watch me soon.”
Smith was previously committed to Missouri as baseball prospect, but he decided to back out of that commitment and focus on basketball.
Since de-committing, Smith has worked hard to improve his basketball skills. He played with the SW Illinois Jets during the last July recruiting period, where he teamed with Pickett.
“I’ve been in the gym a lot more with my dad every day, and working with my high school coaches,” Smith said. “I got to play with Javon, so a lot of coaches came out to watch. Javon is a great player.”
Smith said he and his family are also close with Illini forward Malcolm Hill, who is a Belleville East product.
Illinois will undoubtedly keep tabs on Smith over the court of his high school season and continue to evaluate him. Smith will also be a guest of the Illini at the Braggin’ Right game against Missouri in St. Louis on Dec. 21.
OrangeandBlueNews.com watched Smith in action vs. Collinsville in a SW Conference matchup.
The consensus is that Smith likely won’t play the point guard position at the next level. He’s more of an off-the-ball player, with good athleticism and a smooth jump shot to 3-point range.
“College coaches like my ability to get to the basket,” Smith said. "I’m strong, I have a good basketball IQ, and I make open shots.”
The Illini still have two open scholarship for 2017-18, and Smith is one option that John Groce and his staff are keeping tabs on.