Smith is the heart and soul for this Team United 16u EYBL group with his motor and tenacity shining bright setting the tone in those departments. In session one, he averaged 15.3 Points, 2.5 Rebounds, 3.8 Assists, and 2.8 Steals per game while shooting 55% from the floor and 81% from the free throw line. Smith didn’t make any threes on the weekend as he attempted 5 over the course of four games. Despite not being able to showcase his improved touch, Smith led the charge with his effort defensively and that contagious intensity he displays at all times. He pushes the pace in transition, understands how to play the game the right way, and is consistently attacking the basket when given the opportunity. Smith is one of North Carolina’s best two way guards and is now getting the chance to showcase his game on a national stage.

Smith is an incredible two way guard that brings a special level of intensity and competitive fire every single time we see him. Smith’s Team United 16u EYBL group is stacked with talent so his defense first approach is often what rewards him on the offensive end. He does a great job managing the basketball on the offensive end, looking for his own scoring when it genuinely makes sense allowing him to play with an efficient style. Smith embraced the matchup with the talented guards on Team Loaded South 3SSB and helped lead his team to a victory in an incredible game. He and Micah Gunter Micah Gunter 6'3" | SG Greensboro Day | 2028 State #79 Nation NC share great chemistry with one another in the Team United backcourt with their respective ability to play both on or off the ball. Smith’s intensity, athleticism, and feel for the game at both ends of the floor will make him a problem all spring/summer long.

Smith is a very dynamic point of attack defender and it will be a prominent part of his impact on this very talented Team United EYBL 16u group. Smith had what was a truly special sophomore season at Hunter Huss with the ability to take over a game with his offensive ability as a scorer and playmaker. On this Team United team, he won’t have the same type of usage but he can absolutely have a massive impact as his defense will shine. He averaged over 6 steals per game this past season and he does a great job converting those into easy buckets with his dynamic speed in transition. Smith showed a ton of progress in his outside touch, going from a sub 30% shooter from deep to almost 35% in one season while increasing the volume. His athleticism, attitude, and IQ make him a truly dynamic defender on the ball which should bode well for both him individually and Team United collectively as they look to go for Peach Jam glory this season.

Smith took over the 5A title game in a big way, finishing with 41 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. He consistently got downhill, lived at the free-throw line, and made plays for others when the defense collapsed. His ability to control the game and deliver in key moments stood out.

Smith has been one of North Carolina’s best players regardless of class all season long and he’s got his team one win away from a State Championship. In the 72-63 Hunter Huss win over JM Robinson, Smith finished with 27 Points, 6 Rebounds, 6 Assists, and 3 Steals on 10-19 from the floor and 7-15 from the line. Another ridiculous stat from this game is that Smith drew 13 fouls throughout it. His ability to apply pressure to the opposing defense with his live dribble is arguably his best weapon at this point in time and it was on full display in this one. Smith is also one of the more competitive kids you’ll find and he does an incredible job instilling that approach in his teammates as they’ve embarked on this journey. His ability to lead his team both emotionally and with his production as a Sophomore as they enter this State Championship stage is truly an achievement and likely a sign of things to come for Smith over the course of his high school career.

Smith turned in one of the most complete performances of the night, finishing with 27 points while contributing across all aspects of the game. Controlled tempo, limited turnovers, and impacted both ends, helping push a strong contender forward to the next round.

Jaleel Smith Jaleel Smith 6'1" | CG Hunter Huss | 2028 State NC is the true sleeper for Gatorade Player of the year in North Carolina when you consider simply how productive and important he is for this Hunter Huss team. Smith plays with an elite competitive edge, he’s always going to keep working to break the opposition down, and is a truly relentless scorer. Smith has led Huss to a 14-2 record thus far on the season and is averaging 31.3 Points, 7.8 Rebounds, 4.9 Assists, and a WHOPPING 6.1 Steals per game. Smith is doing all of this on 54/38/72 splits. Smith has improved his % from beyond the arc from 30% to 38% from his Freshman to Sophomore season. Showing that he’s putting a lot of time in on his game and rounding it out to be a truly complete player. Smith is a dynamic two way guard that is still getting better every time we see him.

Stat-sheet stuffing floor general who shined with Huss High in the NCHSAA State Playoffs; put up 22.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.2 apg and 4.1 spg on 42 made 3-pointers; high-level point guard with promise suiting up with Team United

Another young prospect that showed that he is worthy of the attention that he’s getting, he made his impact early on, making some big plays for his team from the start. He understands how to control the tempo of the game and does a nice job balancing his scoring with facilitating.

Smith makes his debut at No. 4 overall in the 2028 rankings and No. 2 at the point guard position as he continues to excel at Huss in the Big South Conference. He dropped 40 points on 14-of-20 shooting along with seven rebounds and five assists in their conference tournament semifinal victory over Crest as he continues to show he can play at a high level. He’s produced 23.2 points, 5.3 assists, 4.4 steals and 4.1 assists per game on 52 percent shooting from the field to start his high school career. Another PG prospect with high-major potential!