Auburn forward Jabari Smith could become the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft after an impressive start to his freshman season. 

"Among the lottery teams I surveyed, he’s become a pretty big favorite among most of them," Chad Ford of NBA Big Board wrote of Smith.

Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero were considered the top two names in the class coming into the season, and Ford notes these two "still have support" among NBA teams. The upside could still be enough for Smith to become the first player off the board.

"He's not as polished as Banchero or a rim-protecting unicorn like Holmgren, but he’s got an elite combination of size, athletic ability and one of the sweetest jumpers in the draft," Ford added.