Jordan Smith, the No. 4 overall player and top-ranked shooting guard in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, is becoming one of the hottest names in college basketball recruiting. With the transfer portal window closing, interest in the elite prospect has surged—especially from programs like Duke, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgetown, and Syracuse.
Smith visited Duke in November ahead of the 2024–25 season, marking his second official visit (the other being to Louisville). The trip left a strong impression on the Paul VI Catholic (VA) standout.
“I really like Duke and how they’re changing the program around,” Smith told 247Sports insider Dushawn London. “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’s ties to Duke run deeper than just one visit. He attends Paul VI Catholic, a program that has become a reliable pipeline for Duke, producing former Blue Devils Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels, as well as current players Darren Harris and Patrick Ngongba II.
To date, Smith has received offers from 19 programs, with Indiana under new head coach Darian DeVries being the latest to extend an offer.
Looking ahead to the 2025–26 season, Duke’s backcourt remains youthful and talented. A projected starting lineup could include junior Caleb Foster and sophomore Isaiah Evans, with Harris and incoming freshman Cayden Boozer providing depth. However, that projection is anything but certain.
Evans, while having announced his return for a sophomore season, has also entered his name into the 2025 NBA Draft and is expected to participate in the NBA Draft Combine. Additionally, Duke recently landed portal standout Cedric Coward, another high-upside shooting guard with NBA potential.
Should both Evans and Coward leave for the NBA, Duke could face a significant backcourt void next season. That would make Smith an even more critical recruit to watch as Jon Scheyer and his staff look to solidify the roster.
