How Illinois commit Mark Smith went from potential MLB draft pick to big-time college hoops recruit

Posted May 8, 2017
Mark Smith had his future all mapped out. As a high school junior, he committed to Missouri to play baseball as a right-handed pitcher with a fastball sitting in the low 90s. If he continued to improve his velocity and command, there was reason to believe his big 6’5, 225-pound frame could make him an MLB draft pick before he ever arrived on campus. (SB Nation)

Related: College Basketball Recruiting

2026 Wing Eltayeb Eltayeb Commits To Virginia Tech Basketball
Virginia Tech and Mike Young added a commitment in the class of 2026 in the form of Eltayeb Eltayeb (el-TIE-eb). Originally from Omdurman, Sudan, Eltayeb...
Mon Aug 17, 2026

Polish forward Jakub Szumert commits to SMU basketball
SMU has landed a commitment from Polish big man Jakub Szumert, one of the top available prospects from Europe. The 6-9 forward has averaged 13.2...
Sun Aug 16, 2026

How a trip to 'The Sanctuary' transformed top prospect Ahmed Nur's future
Ahmed Nur was never so excited about being so wrong. He was at center court at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center in South...
Sat Aug 15, 2026

Duke offers 5-star SF, UNC Basketball target Demarcus Henry
It’s going to be a battle on Tobacco Road for 5-star small forward Demarcus Henry. On Friday, Henry announced on Twitter that he received an...
Sat Aug 15, 2026