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More on Quadree Smith

Quadree Smith

Nextuprecruits.com reported earlier today that IMG Academy power forward Quadree Smith is visiting Providence this weekend.

Smith is a big-bodied power forward and one-time UNC-Greensboro commit. He capped his high school career with a Class 2A Maryland State Championship in the winter of 2014 before spending a postgraduate season at IMG. At IMG, Smith played on a team that reached the National Prep Championship final where they fell to Brewster Academy.

I had an opportunity to see Smith last November when IMG traveled to New Haven as part of the Prep National Showcase. Smith was extremely productive that afternoon, scoring 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds against a Putnam Science team featuring recent UConn power forward commit Mamadou Diarra.

At the time I wrote that Smith reminded me of former Florida power forward Dametri Hill, who helped lead the Gators to the Final Four in 1994. Friar fans may remember that team because they defeated a pair of Big East squads in the NCAAs — an upset of Connecticut in the Sweet 16 and then an end to Boston College’s deepest tourney run in the Elite Eight. Hill was a below the rim, high efficiency interior player who stood not much taller than 6’6, but carved space inside and scored with a soft hook shot.

If Smith does end up at Providence, he’ll have taken a winding road to get there. He began his high school career at Archbishop Carroll and saw great success alongside Georgetown commit Marcus Derrickson at St. Paul VI, before transferring during January of his senior season to Potomac.

Smith cited a lack of touches and pressure from the St. Paul VI coaching staff to commit to Greensboro as key factors in his decision to transfer. From The Washington Post in January 2014, “I wanted to wait but the coaches told me that I needed to commit then because other players were visiting Greensboro and could take my spot. I’m still committed to Greensboro and very interested in going there, but I also want to weigh all my options more and look at other offers, too, before signing somewhere.”

Smith is one of 11 players to have left St. Paul VI over the past two seasons. Derrickson, another of those players, ended up at Brewster and faced off against Smith in the Prep finals this past March.

While at St. Paul VI, Smith scored 13 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in a victory over the nation’s top-ranked team in Oak Hill. The win snapped Oak Hill’s 56-game winning streak. He was also a critical part of Potomac winning the state title, with 20 points and 18 rebounds in the state semifinals and 14 points and 19 boards in the title game.

With the departure of Paschal Chukwu, the Friars are in desperate need of a big man and Smith has the size to battle inside immediately. Having only seen him once, it’s hard to get a true read on what type of impact he could have at Providence, but there aren’t many capable of putting up 21/14 at the National Prep Showcase without a certain level of potential.

Here is ESPN.com’s scouting report on Smith: 

Strengths: There’s something to being a big man and embracing your role. Smith is the kind of kid who has no identity crisis. He’s a business man in the lane and given his obvious size, he’s a problem. He puts everything he can get his hands on away (and he’s got good hands). Think of an NFL left tackle in a hoops uniform. There’s little resistance that can be offered against him going to the rim. Now, he’s not going to dunk it when he gets there but he puts away his chance. What’s amazing is how quickly he can get off his feet. Has the nimbleness of Glen “Big Baby” Davis but more beef. Making it even better is that he can pass.

Weaknesses: He needs to trim down. There’s no getting around it. He’s got the same body as Marquette’s Devante Gardner or Miami’s Reggie Johnson; though he’s two inches shorter than both. He’s wide so even when he loses the weight he’ll have his competitive edge because of the size of his rump and the width of his shoulders.

Bottom Line: There’s a market for guys like this, especially to programs that crafted post players from guys like him. Competitive as anything and one of the most productive kids on a very good high school team. He’s going to smile at you, collide with you and punish in the paint all in a few quick steps. At first look, you don’t think much of him. Watched him 2-3 times and your appreciation grows exponentially with each viewing. He’ll sign mid to high-major as beauty is in the eye of the beholder but productivity belong to Smith.

Video: Player interview:

Highlights:

Full game against Wilbraham and Monson:  

One Comment

  1. Derec Lamendola

    June 6, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    LETS GET NUMBER 21 Criag LEIGHTON DEREC LAMENDOLA LET’S DO THAT I Dear Who’s Visting Providence College IS FRARA TWON BUISE Criag LEIGHTON DEREC LAMENDOLA And CAN YOU DO MY SUMMMMER SCHDUILE

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