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

Get to know Class of 2028 guard Mateen Cleaves Jr.
Mateen Cleaves Jr is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Orchard Lake (MI.) who plays for Dream City Christian in Arizona. Cleaves is currently ranked No...
Sun Feb 22, 2026

College basketball recruiting: Transfer portal, NIL bumps high school kids
As the basketball recruiting landscape is flooded with high-end, experienced, well-paid talent, the arms race intensifies. When the bar is raised to players with multiple...
Sun Feb 22, 2026

College basketball recruiting: Teams with 5-star commits in the 2026 class
Of the nation’s truly elite basketball recruits, five remain uncommitted and unsigned midway through February. But as the high school season ticks to a close...
Sat Feb 21, 2026

Five 2026 recruiting classes outside the Top 15 that could age better than their ranking
Every cycle, a handful of recruiting classes sit outside the top 10 in February, only to look dramatically different one or two years later. When...
Sat Feb 21, 2026