Kentucky to talk with Nick Smith Jr. this week

With the class of 2021 all wrapped up, college staffs will now turn their focus to the class of 2022.

With the COVID-19 visiting restrictions being lifted in the coming weeks, teams are ramping up to get players on campus, while they also finally get to see them play in person on the AAU circuit.

John Calipari and his staff are right there ready to get some pieces rolling. One of the big pieces they are trying to land is Arkansas native Nick Smith Jr.

Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers reported Sunday that Coach Cal and his staff will talk with Smith this coming Friday.

Smith plays his high school ball at Sylvan Hills High School, which is the same school that former Wildcat Archie Goodwin played for. He’s currently a four-star prospect in the 247 Sports Composite rankings and the 26th-best player in the country.

Known for his ability to score the basketball, he is able to fill it up from all three levels of the floor, and he also consistently gets to the free-throw line. Smith has good size for the position at 6-4, and uses that length to his advantage on both ends of the floor. Add in solid athleticism, the room for growth as a playmaker, and he could become one of the best shooting guards in the country.

Typically, these types of conversations are the ones that lead to scholarship offers, when they jump on the phone with Calipari. If that offer doesn't come this Friday, one could be on the horizon very soon.

Kentucky is currently seen as one of the favorites in his recruitment alongside Arkansas, Auburn, Kansas, North Carolina, and Georgetown. With an offer, the Wildcats could potentially make the jump to the early favorite in the recruitment.

Still a long ways to go, but Smith is another guy to keep a close eye on in the Class of 2022.

Check out some of his highlights below!

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