Recruiting Report: Naeem Smith (2017)
Iowa City high’s star defensive back and wide-receiver Naeem Smith just so happens to be one of the state’s top 2017 point guards as well. And because he’s seen plenty of Division I and Division II college football interest,…
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Continue ReadingIowa City high’s star defensive back and wide-receiver Naeem Smith just so happens to be one of the state’s top 2017 point guards as well.
And because he’s seen plenty of Division I and Division II college football interest, it seems basketball coaches have been repelled.
And rightfully so….Smith seems adamant on playing football at the next level.
“I haven’t seen any basketball interest yet, but for football I’ve been talking to FBS Division I, and Division II type schools. I’ve been talking to North Dakota State and I’ve been up to their camp, and I’ve talked to Northwest Missouri State,” said Smith.
“I feel like football is what I’ll end up doing.”
The 5-foot-10 senior-to-be defined his playing style on the hardwood to PHI.
“First, I really like to attack the rim. I look for other teammates, I try to push the ball up the court and I feed them if I’m not open. And I really just look to attack,” said Smith.
“I probably need to work on my outside shooting. I‘ve been working on it a lot, but if I can get it a little more consistent then teams are really going to have to start guarding me, and I can blow-by them and create.”
Last season as a junior with the Little Hawks, Smith was tremendous, posting averages of 10 points and 5.2 assists per game.
“I think I had a good season, but we had a good group of guys,” said Smith. “We had a big guy down low that I could feed and a really good wing that made it easier for me.”
This summer — in between football camps — Smith is running with a very good Iowa Dynasty 17U squad.
“My role on this team is an energy guy. I bring a lot of energy to the table, I get everybody hyped,” he said. “I like to do that on the defensive end, and that will eventually lead to offense. And I feel like I’m more of a leader on this team; when things aren’t going well I always talk and I get the team together.”
Even though he’s likely to pursue football at the next level, Smith still has several goals for his basketball future.
“I’m going out to have fun,” he said. “But I definitely feel like we have a great group, and I want to make it to state and make a run. That’s what I really want to do.”