Scouting report: What is Oregon getting in Keith Smith?

ESPN four-star small forward Keith Smith, the No. 67 prospect in the class of 2016, has committed to the University of Oregon after re-opening his recruitment last week.

The 6-foot-7, 190-pound Rainier Beach High School (Seattle, Washington) product is rated as the No. 1 junior in his state and chose Oregon over offers from Cal, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Washington, Washington State and others.

But getting to that point wasn't easy.

In February, Smith took a visit to San Diego State and decided to commit, but later had second thoughts.

"I first committed to San Diego State right after my official visit, then I sat back and started thinking about it," he said. "I was in my season for basketball, so I didn't get a chance to see both teams play. The style of play didn't fit me, so I opened back up."

According to Keith Smith's father, who carries the same name, his son struggled with the decision to change course.

"He said, 'Dad, I might have made my decision too early and I'm having second thoughts," Smith explained. "I told him, reassured him not to feel bad, that he wasn't the first 17-year-old to have that feeling. San Diego State is a great school, but he wanted a better look at Oregon."

Smith, who was down to San Diego State and Oregon when he made his February decision, said he called the Ducks coaching staff to see if the interest was still mutual. Oregon coach Dana Altman assured him that it was and a visit was scheduled for the April 17-19 weekend.

"I had a really good relationship with the coaches beforehand. I took my visit down there and I loved everything I saw," Smith said. "We got to see the whole campus, student life, the players, we got to see a session of player development. Everything fit me. That's the reason why I chose Oregon."

Keith Smith's father shares those sentiments, believing he saw the total package in Eugene.

"It was a great visit. I told (my son) that we needed to go back and think on this - check the pros and cons," he said. "At the end of the day, he said that's the place he wanted to go and pursue his degree and play basketball."

Equally impressive to both Smiths was Altman's commitment to player and program development.

"He's developing, not only the program, but players too," the elder Smith said. "They are putting in a lot of work. And you see that he's really hustling and putting it in on the recruiting end. He's all over the place. I said, 'Good gracious coach. You need three or four of you to get to all the places you are trying to get to.'"

Smith, a junior at University Washington-pipeline Rainier Beach, was long considered a Washington lean, but he said the pieces never quite came together for him.

"It was hard, but I didn't feel like it was a good fit there," he said. "It was still hard to leave home. I wasn't looking for the team everybody wanted me to go to, but the team that fit for me."

That program turned out to be Oregon, a school that Keith Smith's father believes is well on its way to national relevance in the college basketball landscape.

"They are well on their way to competing at the highest level, not just making the tournament, but making a deep run," Smith said. "We're excited to be a part of that."

-- Andrew Nemec

anemec@oregonian.com

@AndrewNemec