Dennis Smith Jr. was an explosive, two-way playmaker at NC State
In the 2016-17 season, Dennis Smith Jr. was a dynamic freshman guard for NC State who could take over games as a scorer and distributor, highlighted by a triple-double and 580 points plus 197 assists in one season. His biggest differentiators were burst, downhill rim pressure, elite athleticism, and a confident attack mentality that made him hard to contain in transition or in the half court. He fit best as a lead guard who wanted the ball in big moments, though his one-year college sample also showed the volatility that comes with a high-usage, attack-first creator.
