As the NBA Draft approaches, it is rare to find any mock drafts that do not list Jabari Smith as a top-two pick.

The forward from Auburn has been on the radar of NBA franchises ever since he stepped foot on campus, and has gotten more attention following his freshman season which saw him average 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

While Smith has the size and skill set needed to have a prosperous career in the NBA, his college head coach says that Smith’s journey to the NBA began way before his arrival to the Plains.

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl joined local radio show “Sportscall” on Tiger 95.9 FM in Auburn (click here to listen to the full interview) on Tuesday to discuss a plethora of topics, including Smith. When asked what he tells NBA scouts and executives when they ask about Smith, Pearl says that his work ethic is among the best that he’s ever seen. Pearl says that “work ethic” is a craft that Smith has worked to perfect since he was in high school.

“What people do not realize is how long and how disciplined he has worked over the last four or five years to get to this point,” Pearl said. “It started in high school, he was a “6:30 in the morning, everyday, get up and get in the gym”  guy. Who does that at 14, 15, and 16 years old? His high school coach deserves a lot of credit, his family deserves a lot of credit. This is what an NBA All Star looks like, and that’s why he’s going to go number one (overall).” 

Pearl also mentioned that Smith is a great teammate, which bodes well for NBA franchises that are looking for that one piece to move them in a positive direction.

“All Jabari cares about is winning, so therefore, he had a tremendous leadership role on this team. He just wanted to come in and get better and grow as a person and a player,” said Pearl. “He didn’t care who got the credit. His teammates are genuinely happy for him because of the kind of person he is, the kind of teammate he is, the kind of friend he is.”

In the latest mock draft by USA Today’s Rookie Wire, Smith is projected to land with the Oklahoma City Thunder with the no. 2 overall pick, citing that Smith would be a valuable addition to Oklahoma City’s core.

On the other hand, Sports Illustrated has Smith joining fellow Auburn product chuma okeke in Orlando, with the Magic projected to take Smith at no. 1 overall. According to Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated, Smith would be an excellent fit for the Magic’s system, and has the ability to be a culture-setter for a franchise “still searching for their identity.”

Smith continues to prepare for the NBA Draft, which is set for Thursday, June 23.

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