Prime Duke Basketball Targets Entertain Idea of Joining Forces

In this story:
There's no doubt that St. John Bosco High School (Calif.) point guard Brandon McCoy Jr. and Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.) shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. are priority 2026 targets for fourth-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer. Not only do they account for two-thirds of the Blue Devils' reported wishlist in the cycle, but they were also the first in their class to visit the blueblood program.
ALSO READ: Duke Signee Asks Nate Ament Million-Dollar Question
Plus, it's worth noting that McCoy and Smith toured the campus in Durham the same weekend in early November.
Brandon McCoy Jr and Jordan Smith Jr on their official visits to Duke!
— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) November 2, 2024
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/dtaiZKV4aN
And despite playing their high school ball on opposite coasts, they have formed a friendship while never ruling out the possibility of teaming up at the next level.
"I think so," McCoy, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound five-star who ranks No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2026 Composite, told NBA TV's Krysten Peek this week about whether he could envision forming a package deal with Smith in college. "I mean, location isn't really a problem with me for school. I'm all for different types of experiences..."
Two of the best guards in the 2026 HS class teamed up at the USAB minicamp in San Antonio and were unstoppable. My interview with Brandon McCoy and Jordan Smith Jr and candid answers about recruiting and possibly playing together at the college level. pic.twitter.com/zC27vEFqtn
— Krysten Peek (@krystenpeek) April 9, 2025
Smith, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound five-star stacking up at No. 4 among the nation's current prep juniors, echoed McCoy's sentiments.
"Yeah, I would love to play with Brandon," he said. "Like, I would agree with everything he just said...We really play well together. We're compatible with each other."
"We just feed off each other really well."
Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.
Follow MattGilesBD