Wake Forest Basketball Recruiting: Interview with 2015 Small Forward Ray Smith

Ray Smith, a talented small forward out of Las Vegas, Nevada, received an offer from Wake Forest on Wednesday before it was publicized on Thursday. This came after Coach Manning's initial talks with Ray on Tuesday. Currently ranked 36th in the 2015 class by ESPN, Ray Smith is a highly sought after recruit, with offers from Arizona, Georgetown, UCLA, Texas, New Mexico, USC, Oregon, UNLV, and many others. Playing for Dream Vision along side other top recruits, including Chase Jeter, other offers are expected to come soon for this talented wing. While it is early for Ray Smith, he is a player who could be a huge piece for the Wake Forest basketball program.

Although Ray's father handles a majority of his recruiting, Ray did have great things to say about Wake Forest basketball. "I know about the great players that has been through that program from Chris Paul to Tim Duncan."

It was extremely interesting to hear how much Ray's father, Bobby Smith, knew about Danny Manning. When I asked Bobby about Manning, he said "I definitely liked watching Danny Manning and his style of play." As mentioned earlier by writers for the site, Danny Manning's name appears to be a good sticking point for Ray's father.

While Ray did not talk much about his recruitment, Bobby Smith was able to fill me in on their initial thoughts about Wake Forest. When I asked if he believed there could be a good fit with Ray and Wake Forest, Bobby told me "I think there's a possibility and that's why we're excited to see the possible fit." As a great slasher, driver and shooter, Smith appears like he would be a good fit in Coach Manning's up-tempo style. While Bobby Smith has not had much contact with Manning yet, he believes more will come in the near future. "Definitely. I'm hoping to meet or talk with him real soon." Manning will have some ground to make up, but the Smith's seem ready to give him that time.

Ray Smith is a highly rated recruit, but is motivated to continue improving his game. When asked via text what he hopes to improve in his game, Ray quickly responded "EVERYTHING. I want to develop as much as I can in every aspect before college." Bobby expanded on Ray's summer plans, adding "He hopes to make a couple visits and excel on his AAU team." Ray's dedication and talent will serve him well as he continues to progress as a basketball player.

With many top schools hoping for Ray's services, a decision likely will not come soon. He told me "As of now I'm considering all offers. There isn't anyone I'm not considering." This bodes well for Wake Forest's chances, as a late arrival to Ray's recruiting. Time will tell how serious of an option Wake Forest will be for Ray Smith, but for now, it appears to be a potential contender. While nothing is planned, he said "[Visiting Wake Forest] is definitely a possibility." Getting a visit from Ray would be huge, and could be the first step in Ray Smith becoming a Demon Deacon.