As the 2026 recruiting cycle gains momentum, five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith is emerging as one of the most sought-after prospects in the country. Ranked No. 4 overall and the top shooting guard in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Smith is drawing strong interest from several major programs — with Duke leading the charge.
Smith recently discussed his recruitment with 247Sports insider Dushawn London and singled out Duke among the schools pursuing him the hardest. Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgetown, and Syracuse were also mentioned as prominent suitors.
The elite guard made his official visit to Duke in November, marking his second official visit following a trip to Louisville. His experience in Durham left a lasting impression.
“I really like Duke and how they’re changing the program around,” Smith said. “The coaches always treated me like family when I went up to visit them. It was really fun. I saw my teammates, and it was a good vibe with them.”
Smith plays at Paul VI Catholic in Virginia — a high school well-known to Duke fans. It’s the alma mater of current Blue Devils Darren Harris and Patrick Ngongba II, as well as former standouts Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels. This strong pipeline could help Duke’s chances of landing the standout guard.
Smith currently holds offers from 19 programs, with his most recent coming from new Indiana head coach Darian DeVries. As his recruitment heats up, his college decision will be one of the most closely watched in the 2026 class.
Looking ahead, Duke’s backcourt situation for the 2025-26 season remains fluid. Assuming players like Caleb Foster (Junior) and Isaiah Evans (Sophomore) return, they’re likely to headline the starting backcourt. Depth pieces such as Darren Harris (Sophomore) and freshman Cayden Boozer also figure to play key roles.
However, uncertainty looms. Evans, despite confirming his return to Duke for a sophomore season, has entered his name into the 2025 NBA Draft early entry pool and will participate in the NBA Draft Combine. In addition, transfer guard Cedric Coward — a recent high-profile pickup — is another candidate for early NBA departure.
If both Evans and Coward choose to remain in the draft, head coach Jon Scheyer could be facing major backcourt vacancies and a critical offseason ahead. That makes Smith’s recruitment all the more significant for Duke’s future.
