Mark Pope still doesn’t have a commitment in Kentucky’s 2026 recruiting class, and that uneasy feeling around Big Blue Nation could intensify on Friday.
Five-star guard Jordan Smith — one of the nation’s elite prospects — is set to announce his college decision, and the growing expectation is that he will choose John Calipari and Arkansas, not Kentucky.
Smith, a 6-foot-2 guard from Fairfax, Virginia, ranks No. 3 nationally in the 2026 class and lists Kentucky, Duke, Syracuse, Indiana, and Georgetown among his finalists. Despite the Wildcats once being viewed as a serious contender, most recruiting buzz now points to Fayetteville.
If that projection holds, it would represent another high-profile recruiting loss to Calipari, who continues to thrive on the trail even after leaving Lexington.
Calipari’s familiar blueprint remains intact at Arkansas: load up on elite freshmen, develop NBA talent, and reload quickly. That approach paid off last season with a Sweet 16 appearance — something he had not achieved at Kentucky since 2019 — and it’s working again this year. The Razorbacks sit No. 21 nationally and are tied with Kentucky for second place in the SEC at 8-3, powered by freshman standouts Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas.
Smith would become Calipari’s second five-star pledge in the 2026 class, joining Little Rock wing JJ Andrews, a 6-foot-6 scorer who has already signed.
For Kentucky, Smith isn’t the only elite target slipping away. The Wildcats also appear to be trailing in the recruitment of five-star guard Caleb Holt, where Alabama is considered the frontrunner and Arizona is surging late.
Even more concerning, several top-10 prospects in the 2026 class remain uncommitted — including No. 1 overall player Tyran Stokes, a Kentucky native. While UK once seemed well-positioned for Stokes, momentum has shifted toward Kansas.
Pope has been open about preferring a veteran-heavy roster built through the Transfer Portal, and that philosophy has paid dividends this season. Kentucky’s depth has helped the Wildcats survive injuries to Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, and Kam Williams while remaining competitive in the SEC.
Still, high school recruiting matters at Kentucky. And if Pope fails to land a single prep prospect in the 2026 class — especially while watching Calipari stack five-stars elsewhere — frustration inside Big Blue Nation will only grow louder.
