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Ray Smith is one of the highly-touted players in Arizona's loaded 2015 recruiting class. 247Sports.com ranked Smith as the 12th best prospect in his in class.
"Ray is a terrific athlete who can really get up and down the floor. He has the size you want as a small forward, and he can really pass, shoot and dribble. He’s a very skilled basketball player with great size," Sean Miller said about the dynamic forward (via Arizona Athletics).
With the departure of Stanley Johnson and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to the NBA, he should have a major role on this year's team.
As a junior, Smith averaged 24.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and was named to Nevada's first-team all-state. Unfortunately, an ACL tear would force him to miss his senior season.
I know Wildcat fans are interested to see how his recovery is going, so we asked him that and some other questions. Here they are:
Q: Obviously the main thing Arizona fans have been wondering: How’s your recovery coming along? How close are you to being 100%?
Ray Smith: My leg is fine. I'm able to do all things that I could do before, and I've also took the time to gain 20 lbs. I'm not a big percentage guy, but I would say I'm about 100%.
Q: How has being sidelined with an injury changed how you see the game?
RS: Being on the sideline just showed me really how to get easy buckets without having to do a lot, like cutting.
Q: You had a number of schools recruiting you, but obviously you chose Arizona. What were the main things about the program that impacted your decision?
RS: Damon Stoudamire is a big reason I came to the University of Arizona. He was there with me before I blew up, and I just have a lot of trust in him that he will get me right.
Q: What are some things you do best on the court, and what are some areas you would like to improve on?
RS: I feel like I can improve in all ways, and I also feel that I do everything well. It's just a matter of sharpening all parts of my game up.
Q: Which player(s) do you model your game after?
RS: Paul George, Melo, and Kobe are the new guys that I am studying right now.
Q: What do you expect your role to be on this year’s team?
RS: Be a leader and work hard! Play great basketball.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment in your basketball career so far?
RS: That I have never lost a rivalry game in my basketball career.
Q: Other than basketball, what’s one of your other favorite hobbies?
RS: I just love hanging with family more than anything.
Q: Rondae’s "shimmy" before each free throw routine became quite a thing here at Arizona, do you have a unique free throw ritual or routine that could take its place?
RS: Nothing crazy. Just two dribbles, breathe, spin, and let it go.
Q: What’s one thing you want Arizona fans to know about you?
RS: Man, I just want to hoop, and if you see me say wassup!
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If you want some visual proof that his knee's doing well, here you go:
Just a lil fun !!! #BearDown @simon_Says_so where you at? pic.twitter.com/lSXnSphAay
— 2⃣GOD (@raysmith2297) April 23, 2015