Trevor Smith is a 6’0” Guard from the state of Virginia and is a top 150 recruit for the class of 2023. He has committed to the Richmond Spiders over a lengthy list of offers that included schools from the SEC, ACC, and Big East. He is headed into his senior season with Woodside High School in Newport News, VA. As a Junior he averaged 23.0 PPG and garnered 1st Team All-Peninsula District honors. He dropped a school record 55 points (10 3-pointers) while adding 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals in a win over Gloucester last season. He plays on the AAU circuit with Team Loaded (VA), alongside a roster full of future Division 1 players like ESPN #68 prospect Dennis Parker and 4 star recruit Carter Lang. I really believe Trevor Smith can be one of the top hidden gems in the country for the 2023 recruiting class and was lucky enough to have him join me for an interview recently. This is what I learned about the future Spiders star.
Q: You’re a top 150 recruit in the nation for the class of 2023 and had offers from Florida, Virginia Tech, and other schools from the SEC and ACC. What was it with the Richmond Spiders program that sold you to commit there over the offers from power conference schools?
A: The bond I had with the coaching staff. The coaches prioritized me, they came to watch me work out, the at home visits and with everything going on with the transfer portal it stood out that they kept on recruiting me hard.
Q: Coming into the Richmond program two seasons from now (2023-24), what do you feel you can bring to the Atlantic 10 from day one? What are some of the attributes you can provide?
A: Just being a leader. Playing hard every game, working hard to try to touch the floor as much as I can. Taking a chance on my opportunity. I can really score and pass, I can defend, all that.
Q: You’re going to be a Senior at Woodside High School in Newport News, VA. Since you’ve already committed to Richmond, what’s your main focus for next season?
A: Just stepping up to be a leader. Getting stronger to be ready for the physicality of the college game, just to be ready from day one really. Trying to be more vocal because I’m going to have to be at the next level.
Q: Is there a certain part of your game that you’re working on the most this summer or in AAU?
A: I’m just improving my game. My shot making ability. Simple stuff like catch and shoot, all the little things. My playmaking ability, just making my teammates better really.
Q: For our viewers, your father is Tim Smith, who was an absolute legend at East Tennessee State. He is the career leading scorer for the program with 2,300 points and led the Bucs to two NCAA Tournament appearances. You had an offer from ETSU, so was there ever a thought in your mind to follow in his footsteps and head to Johnson City?
A: I mean, yeah I thought about it. But just because he went there it wasn’t like “okay that’s what I want to do”. Our paths are different, but I definitely thought about playing at ETSU. It would have been dope.
Q: He was a smaller guard (5’10”) but the way he attacked the rim was fearless. He thought he could score on anyone in the country. When I watch you play, I feel like you have the same mentality, same mindset. Is there any part of his game, maybe from training you or just watching him growing up, that you kind of take after him?
A: Yeah just the dog mentality. Being that I’m 6’0”, 6’1”, just being a smaller guard and finishing at the rim over bigger, taller defenders. I go in there strong and try to finish. But we have a different type of game as a whole.
Q: Is there anyone in college or the NBA today that you think you resemble or do you just have your own game, stick to your own thing? Is there maybe 1 or 2 names in particular that you really study in the NBA?
A: I take little pieces from a lot of players, because you can always be better at something. But I kind of stick to my style of play and what works for me. I study Trae Young, his playmaking and shotmaking ability. Then Ja Morant, because he can really make plays as well.
Q: If you had to give one name, maybe two, who was the most underrated guy you’ve either played with or played against in high school or on the AAU circuit?
A: There’s really a lot of underrated guys I’ve played with. My sophomore year I played with a player by the name of Quadir Petteway. I feel like he was a high major but he’s still going D1 so that’s good. AAU wise, I play with a bunch of D1 players like Dennis Parker, Davin Crosby Jr, Carter Lang, the list goes on.
Q: Last question, obviously being a Richmond commit, you must have watched quite a few Spiders games last year as they went to the NCAA Tournament and knocked off Iowa. Who was the one player on their team that you liked watching the most?
A: Jacob Gilyard. He’s a dog. He’s a smaller guard but it’s heart over height. He went out there and killed, he’s real vocal and really showed his playmaking ability.
