The skinny: Smith is an electrifying scorer at the guard position, and despite his size, doesn't fit anyone's description of a point guard. He's mature physically, can overpower a lot of players at his position, and is a fantastic penetrator and finisher once he's in the lane. He is not an elite shooter along the lines of a Chris Lofton, but he is an elite scorer.
He may not fit the bill as a pure point guard, but adding him would give the Vols another accomplished ball-handler, and a player who physically, is probably as prepared to come into college and compete at the guard position as anyone in the class.
Pearl and associate head coach Tony Jones were in Detroit last week, and as of right now, we expect Smith to be on campus the weekend of April 7 for an official visit. That's significant because to this point, the only official visit he's taken has been to Arkansas on Feb. 21.
As of right now, we'll term this one a two-team battle between the Vols and the Razorbacks, and though hard information on Smith is tough to come by, much of the buzz at the moment has Tennessee being in good position.
The 'X-factor' in the equation might be Illinois. Coach Bruce Weber and the Illini have been involved with Smith since back in the fall, but haven't seemed to be pursuing him with the same level of vigor that Tennessee and Arkansas have shown in the last couple of months. The general feeling is that Illinois remains a threat, and could affect things if they come after him hard in the next few weeks.