Jordan Smith Jr, a five-star guard, currently entertains offers from basketball bluebloods, as they line up to recruit him.
Jordan Smith Jr. and the Ensuing Battle of the College Elites
When 5-star shooting guard Jordan Smith makes his final choice of school, you cannot question the thoroughness of his process.
The Washington D.C. native, while he arrives at his decision, continues to show out in amateur tournaments. According to the Twitter account, HS Top Recruits, the off-guard feasted on EYBL competition during his first session.
In his first three-game stretch, the six-foot-two scorer enjoyed competing. Smith averaged 22.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the three-game set. At the same time, colleges by the truckload keep offering him. Currently, 18 schools offered the Paul VI Catholic High product.
Unless he grows a couple of inches, Smith profiles as a combo guard. While he maintains the frame of a true point guard, his mentality screams two guard that loves to score at will. When you look deeper into his game, you will see an attacking guard who loves to slash and finish.
Carrying 200 pounds allows his to finish with contact. Expect to share his fair share of and-ones that will populate games. Smith flashes the “go gene.” Meaning, when he starts to heat up, the pace of play changes. A different gear envelops the player and the shooting form locks in.
Lexington Bound?
This week, representatives from the University of Kentucky made the trip to Washington. Matt Giles, from Sports Illustrated, described what happened, stating:
“On Tuesday, the Kentucky coaches will be at his school. According to 247Sports’ Dushawn London, the primary purpose of their trip is to check in on Smith, who has held an offer from the powerhouse Wildcat recruiting team since September.
The 6’2″, 200-pound standout landed an offer from Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff back in July. At the time, Smith stacked up at No. 9 overall on the 247Sports 2026 Composite. He’s since risen to No. 4 in the class.”
UK Head Coach Mark Pope, in his pursuit to surround Smith with equal talent, hits the road, as Kentucky Sports Report’s Jack Pilgrim asserts:
“Kentucky has spent the last week meeting with the best of the best the rising senior class has to offer, and by the looks of things, they’re not preparing for a break anytime soon. ”
“Among confirmed contact dating back to April 22, the Wildcats have met with a double-digit number of prospects for in-home visits, ranging from the five-stars everyone wants their hands on to some under-the-radar gems expected to see their stock rise in the coming months as AAU ball continues and live periods begin.”
According to Rivals, Kentucky has a 44% chance of landing Smith among other 2026 recruits. That number is twice the total of the second-place North Carolina Tarheels (22.2%).
Two for One?
In early April, CSN’s Ajayi Segun details how fellow top recruit, Brandon McCoy, could join the same team as Smith, stating:
“With Jon Scheyer leading the way, there’s no doubt the Blue Devils remain a powerhouse in college basketball—and that success has likely caught the attention of both players.”
Imagine both players, as Segun asserts, heading to Durham. The Blue Devils lost two scorers in Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
It’s tough to say a team that reached the National Semifinal needs help, but losing the NCAA Player of the Year leaves a void that those points cannot replace.
KEEP READING: Mark Pope’s Transfer Portal Plans for Kentucky Hinging on $2.8 Billion
The duo of Smith and McCoy transforms Duke from a frontcourt-dominant ballclub to a guard-friendly one that needs its primary ballhandlers to serve as leaders.
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