5-star prospect Tyler Smith, rated within the 247Sports Composite because the No. 3 energy ahead recruit within the Class of 2023 and the No. 15 total prospect, signed with Extra time Elite on Monday to grow to be the sixteenth participant to affix the league forward of its inaugural season.

Smith is a 6-foot-10, 205 pound energy ahead from Richmond, Texas. Considered one of 4 incoming five-star prospects to affix the league, he selected Extra time Elite, a startup skilled path, over various faculty presents together with from Baylor, Texas, Kansas, Auburn and Arkansas. 

“Tyler Smith is the definition of a contemporary huge; he is lengthy, athletic, and has a clean lefty taking pictures stroke,” OTE Head Coach Kevin Ollie, who received a nationwide championship with UConn, stated in an announcement saying the signing. “We’re able to get within the gymnasium and within the classroom with Tyler in order that he develops into not solely an NBA degree basketball participant, however extra importantly right into a degree 5, world class individual.”

OTE presents a assured minimal of six-figure salaries to its gamers plus bonuses, shares of fairness in Extra time and the advantage of — like faculty — having the ability to revenue off their identify, picture and likeness by gross sales of customized jerseys, NFTs, buying and selling playing cards and video video games. 

The signing of Smith alerts one more coup for OTE because it continues to develop in common within the market as a viable pathway for aspiring professional prospects. Even with schools like Memphis touchdown five-star Jalen Duren and the G League Ignite signing five-stars Jaden Hardy and Scoota Henderson, OTE with 16 gamers has confirmed it may recruit a full roster and accomplish that at a excessive degree. Between Smith, Jean Montero, Jazian Gortman, Jalen Lewis and the Bewley and Thompson brothers, the league has collected NBA-level expertise that in time ought to be capable of assist appeal to different equally proficient NBA abilities.