FAYETTEVILLE — Nick Smith, Arkansas’ high-profile freshman guard, did not play Monday when the 10th-ranked Razorbacks opened the basketball season with a 76-58 victory over North Dakota State.
Smith was withheld for precautionary “knee management,” according to a press release from the basketball team. A timetable for his return has not been determined.
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“Nick’s got an aggravated knee right now, so he’ll be out," Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said on the Razorback Sports Network pre-game show. "It will kind of be a day-to-day, but obviously out tonight. We’ll just leave it in the trainer Matt Townsend’s hands, and Nick. You’ve got to just play with who’s healthy and who is available.”
Smith, 6-5 and 185 pounds, was the USA Today national high school basketball player of the year at North Little Rock this year. Multiple publications have tabbed him as the national freshman of the year this preseason, and he was voted by media and coaches to preseason All-SEC teams.
He is one of three 5-star freshmen at Arkansas who were McDonald's All-Americans last season, along with Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh.
Smith scored 12 points in 28 minutes during the Razorbacks’ loss to 12th-ranked Texas in an exhibition game Oct. 29. He had 9 points in just under 20 minutes during an Oct. 24 exhibition against Division-II Rogers (Okla.) State.
Arkansas is scheduled to play again Friday against Fordham in Fayetteville.