Where Duke Basketball Stands in Jordan Smith Jr. Sweepstakes

One former Duke basketball guard sees the Blue Devils as the outright favorite to land the 2026 standout.

Mar 13, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils mascot during the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

A No. 5 national ranking in a recruiting cycle, where the Blue Devils currently sit with their 2026 efforts, is actually a bit subpar for Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff. After all, they've reeled in three of the past four No. 1 hauls, and they welcomed the No. 2 overall collection in the lone year they didn't finish on top of the list under Scheyer's command.

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But there are still big-time battles to be won on the 2026 trail. One such pursuit involving the Duke basketball program is for the services of the No. 2-ranked overall talent on the 247Sports 2026 Composite in Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.) guard Jordan Smith Jr.

Paul VI's Jordan Smith blocks a shot from McEachern's Jaye Nash during the 39th Annual Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions at Great Southern Bank Arena on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. | Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK

Not only are the Blue Devils the top frontrunner for Smith in the eyes of the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but 2021-22 Duke basketball guard Trevor Keels recently teased on social media that the 6-foot-2, 200-pound five-star is "a lock" to end up in Durham for his college career. And Keels' forecast may well carry validity, as he — not to mention his Duke teammate, Jeremy Roach, plus two current Blue Devil sophomores in Darren Harris and Patrick Ngongba II — are Paul VI Catholic products.

Smith, an aggressive competitor and athletic playmaker, has checked out the Duke basketball program in person a couple of times, with his most recent visit coinciding with the Blue Devils' annual Countdown to Craziness festivities in early October. Back in early August, he trimmed his list of contenders to six: Duke, Arkansas, Georgetown, Indiana, Kentucky and Syracuse.

Smitty going off at East MSA 2022 🔥👀

Jordan Smith Jr is ranked #5 in the class of 2026 and has taken official visits to Duke, Syracuse, Kentucky and Arkansas 📈 pic.twitter.com/4EQtvAl4Bs

— MADE Hoops (@madehoops) November 11, 2025

For now, Jordan Smith Jr. hasn't revealed a decision date.

Whenever Smith announces his college choice, chances are Duke basketball will at least have a hat on the table.

• "Smith’s transition to subsequent levels will also be lightened by the fact that he doesn’t need to be an offensive focal point to impact the game," 247Sports director of basketball scouting Adam Finkelstein noted in his most recent assessment of the projected one-and-done talent.

• "He can do it with his defense, rebounding, energy, competitiveness, or unselfishness. His intangibles are truly elite and so while he may not have totally ideal size or ball skills, he’s extremely hard to bet against."

Nov 18, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Duke's three-deep group of early 2026 signees consists of IMG Academy (Fla.) four-star center Maxime Meyer, Heritage High School (Texas) five-star forward Bryson Howard, and St. Mary's Catholic High School (Ariz.) five-star forward Cameron Williams, who stacks up two spots below Smith at No. 4 overall in the class.

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

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