Recruiting Report: Phil Smith (2019)
As the AAU live period officially kicked off this past weekend with a number of tournaments, some players are beginning to see their recruitment pick up significantly. In the few tournaments that 2019 guard Phil Smith has played in, he’s consistently been one of the best players on the floor.
This weekend at HoopGroup’s Spring Jam Fest was no different. Playing with Mid-Atlantic Select’s 16U team, Smith showcased his all-around game throughout the weekend. The 6’5 wing can do many different things to impact a game. A strength of his is his shooting ability, but once he lures the defense out to him he can take his man off the dribble and finish at the rim.
What’s most impressive about Smith though, is the fact that he always makes to look the right basketball play. Even in environments where Division I coaches are watching him for his scoring, Smith will always take advantage of making the extra pass to a more open teammate.
Before this past weekend, Smith had VMI and a few Division II schools showing interest. Once the tournament concluded, Holy Cross and James Madison immediately expressed interest in Smith, according to Mid-Atlantic Select’s Director James Lee.
I caught up with Smith after his last game in Spooky Nook and he told me one thing he wants to improve on is his finishing around the rim. As a player who constantly looks to spark fastbreaks whether it’s him dribbling or filling lanes, becoming an elite finisher will take his game to the next level.
Lee and the other coaches at Mid-Atlantic Select do a terrific job with helping their players make their weaknesses their strengths, so that’ll be expected in Smith’s play as he suits up for Bullis High School and tries to repeat at IAC champions.
In terms of what Smith is looking for in colleges:
“Just coaches that really value me and really want me apart of the program,” Smith told PrepHoops. “I want them to know that they’re getting a guy who is going to give his all and go 100 percent all of the time.”
Smith currently has a 3.6 GPA.