Jordan Smith Jr., a standout junior from Paul VI Catholic High School in Virginia, has recently caught the attention of top college basketball programs, particularly Duke and UNC. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard is considered one of the best players in the 2026 class, ranking No. 8 overall on the 247Sports Composite. Known for his explosive play, Smith has already secured an early offer from Duke’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, making him one of only three in his class to do so.
Smith is scheduled to visit Duke at the end of September. This visit will allow him to reconnect with former high school teammates who are now part of Duke’s current freshman class, including center Patrick Ngongba II and guard/forward Darren Harris. These players, along with former Duke guards Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels, highlight the strong connection between Paul VI Catholic and Duke, establishing the school as a pipeline for Blue Devil talent in recent years.
However, the recruitment battle for Smith is heating up. Recently, it was reported that Smith has scheduled a visit to UNC, Duke’s archrival, for the first weekend of October. This visit comes just after his planned trip to Duke and before he visits Syracuse, another ACC program, in mid-September. Both Duke and UNC officially extended offers to Smith around the same time in late July, with Syracuse having made their offer in late May.
In addition to these schools, Smith has drawn interest from several other top programs, including Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, and Kansas. His combination of scoring ability and defensive prowess has made him a highly sought-after recruit, with over a dozen offers on the table.
As Smith navigates the recruitment process, his decisions in the coming weeks could have a significant impact on his future and the balance of power between some of college basketball’s most storied programs.
