Auburn basketball: Looking at 5-star commit Jabari Smith’s accolades

Jabari Smith, a five-star power forward out of Tyrone, GA, is the highest-ranked recruit in Auburn basketball history, but you don’t have to take my word for it. The high school senior’s list of accolades continues to grow as he gets closer to beginning his career on the Plains, and today we’re looking at just a few of Smith’s honors.

The 6’10” 210-pound athlete is the number one recruit out of the state of Georgia, the number two power forward, and the fifth-best overall prospect in the country according to 247 Sports. Smith finished his senior season averaging 23.4 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game.

Jabari Smith was named the 2020-21 Max Preps Georgia High School Basketball Player of the Year after helping lead his Sandy Creek High School team to the Class AAA state championship, which they lost 57-49 to Cross Creek.

Smith also made his way onto the 2021 Boys’ McDonald’s All-American game roster, headlining as a national player of the year contender, in addition to the Naismith All-American first team:

Wednesday, the Atlanta Tip-Off Club awarded Jabari Smith the honor of Mr. Georgia Basketball, and then Thursday the USA Basketball Junior National Teams announced Smith made the 2021 Nike Hoops Summit team, though the game won’t be played this year due to COVID-19.

Smith announced his commitment to Auburn basketball in October and officially signed with Bruce Pearl and his staff on November 17. He chose the Tigers over schools including North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.

The power forward joins 4-star shooting guard Trey Alexander on the Tigers’ class of 2021 signees roster. College of Charleston transfer Zep Jasper will also be joining the team in 2021 as Auburn loses Jamal Johnson, Justin Powell, and Javon Franklin to the NCAA Transfer Portal and potentially JT Thor and Sharife Cooper to the NBA.