North Little Rock guard Nick Smith Jr. orally committed to the University of Arkansas on Wednesday, giving the Razorbacks their first 5-star pledge since Bobby Portis in 2013.
Smith said the culture around Coach Eric Musselman's program was too hard to pass up.
"He was like by far the most thing I was looking for in terms of business and hoops," Smith said. "I just have to take that chance."
An ESPN 5-star recruit, Smith is the highest-ranked recruit to pledge to Arkansas in the modern recruiting service era where he is ranked No. 6 nationally by ESPN.
ESPN also ranks Smith the No. 4 shooting guard in the nation for the 2022 class.
Portis was previously the highest-rated in-state prospect in the ESPN rankings when he was ranked 16th at Little Rock Hall. Guard B.J. Young, who committed to the Razorbacks in 2011, was also 16th.
Musselman's NBA background was a big factor to Smith.
"He kept preaching that ever since I started this recruiting process," Smith said. "That's really the only thing I wanted to see."
Smith, 6-5, 185 pounds, accumulated scholarship offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon and several others before choosing the Razorbacks. He narrowed his finalists to Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn and the University of Arkansas-Pine-Bluff.
He said he's parents were behind his decision regardless where he committed.
"My family is going to support me wherever I go, whether it's Alabama, Auburn or UAPB," Smith said.
Smith made an official visit to Arkansas on Sept. 10-12 and other visits to Kansas, Auburn and Alabama in June. He made an unofficial visit to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Aug. 21.
The Razorbacks are also in contention for ESPN 5-star small forward Jordan Walsh and high 4-star small forward Anthony Black.
"I really haven't been talking to them lately but I'll stay in touch with them for sure," Smith said. "Come play with me. Why not?"
Musselman's first two seasons at Arkansas that included the Elite Eight appearance this past season, helped the Hogs' cause.
"If you know Muss, you know Muss is a competitor," Smith said. "He does not like to lose. That's a gene I have. I don't like losing and I know for a fact he's going to push me each and everyday. He's going to push his team. The season they had last year was a great season but his competitive drive really got to me."
An estimated crowd of about 250 that included family, friends, teammates and Razorback fans showed up for his announcement at Arkansas Fitness and Athletics in Little Rock.
"I didn't know a lot of people would come but I knew it would be a good amount," Smith said. "I thank everybody that came out to support me."
Smith was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Underclassman of the Year after averaging 21.3 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals per game as a sophomore for Sylvan Hills, and was named the All-Arkansas Preps Player of the Year after averaging 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists as a junior.
Smith led the Brad Beal Elite AAU team to a 6-2 record and into the finals of the Nike EYBL Peach Jam Basketball Tournament while averaging 18.6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game.
He scored 31 points in the championship game and became the first player since Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. to score more than 30 in the finals.
He's excited to represent his home state.
"My reputation is everything, I just wanted to prove you can stay in the state and do what other people are doing," Smith said.
He said he's relieved to have his decision out of the way.
"But after I got done talking with my family about it, I'm more comfortable putting it out to [the] public," Smith said. "I knew for a fact it was the right choice for me."
During a recent in-home visit with Musselman, Smith took his future coach to the side and told him he was going to be a Hog.
"I said, 'Save my number 3 jersey,' and he just hugged me like 12 times," Smith said.
When asked if he would sign during the early signing period that runs Nov. 10-17, Smith said he wasn't sure when he would sign.
Smith joins ESPN 4-star shooting guard Joseph Pinion of Morrilton, ESPN 4-star guard Derrian Ford of Magnolia and ESPN 4-star small forward Barry Dunning of Mobile (Ala.) McGill-Toolen Catholic as Arkansas pledges for the 2022 class.
Oral commitments are nonbinding.