All-time All-ACC NBA Mock Draft
By Ynal Al-Ouri
Joe Smith was one of the few players in the 90s who was drawing attention away from the juggernaut Duke Blue Devils at the time. Smith averaged 20.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game during his two-year tenure with the Maryland Terrapins. He won numerous awards in college, including the Rupp Trophy, Naismith Award, and being named a consensus All-American. Standing at 6-foot-10, it wasn’t surprising to see Smith post excellent numbers in the scoring department. What set him apart though was his incredible ability to block shots in bunches. He made a name for himself on the defensive end, and showed an incredible amount of tenacity in the rebounding department. Smith was also a reliable free throw shooter, which for his size, adds major value.
Smith however did have weaknesses, most notably his weight. He was very skinny, and it’s concerning for a center entering this day and age where players are stronger than ever. Of course he would have better access to strength and conditioning coaches and resources today, it’s still concerning considering how many other similar players whiffed in the league. With that said though, it’s hard to overlook what he did in college, and many coaches would be willing to take a chance on Smith’s game translating well to the league. The conference has boasted numerous dominant big men with more to their game than Smith, thus causing Smith to be ranked this low. There’s no denying the impact he had on college basketball though, and he certainly helped Maryland gain more notoriety.