One of the initial targets for the Duke basketball team in the Class of 2026 was Jordan Smith Jr., and the links dubetween the 5-star recruit and the prestigious program were evident.

He shines at Paul VI High School (Va.), a school that has recently sent several high-profile players to the Blue Devils, including Jeremy Roach, Trevor Keels, Darren Harris, and Patrick Ngongba.

Over the past two years, Smith Jr. has rapidly climbed the recruiting rankings, with his size being one of his standout attributes, listed at 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds. He was selected for the 2024 USA U17 Men’s National Team, which won the World Cup this summer, where he averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Upon his return to the United States, Jordan Smith Jr. participated in the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, where the Duke basketball coaching staff continued their evaluation.

Smith Jr. is currently ranked as the No. 8 player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, the No. 2 shooting guard in his class, and the top player from Virginia.After the Peach Jam concluded, Smith announced on social media that he had officially received an offer from the Blue Devils. This was the first scholarship offer given by Jon Scheyer for the Class of 2026.

Duke is still awaiting its first commitment from a player in the 2025 or 2026 classes.

However, soon after Scheyer’s offer became official, Hubert Davis and North Carolina extended an offer to Jordan Smith Jr. It was anticipated that the Tar Heels would offer Smith Jr. as both rival programs had been closely following his recruitment.

Louisville, Providence, Miami, Syracuse, Houston, and Michigan are among the programs currently recruiting Smith most intensively.

No timeline has been set, but it seems likely that Jordan Smith Jr. will eventually visit Durham to get an up-close look at the Duke basketball program.