Head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff have begun zeroing in on their key targets for the 2026 recruiting class, and their recent efforts are paying off.
Over the weekend, Duke hosted two premier five-star recruits for Countdown to Craziness, the program’s annual season tip-off event. Among them was Smith, who attended alongside fellow five-star prospect Cameron Williams. This marked Smith’s second official visit to Durham, following an in-home meeting Scheyer recently conducted with the standout combo guard from Paul VI Catholic (VA) — a high school with deep Duke ties.
Just days after his visit, Colby Giacubeno of InsideMDSports submitted a crystal ball prediction projecting Smith to commit to Duke, with medium confidence. Giacubeno has an impressive record — perfect on his 2026 predictions and correct in 89% of his all-time forecasts — giving Blue Devil fans plenty of reason for optimism.
Smith, a 6’2″, 200-pound guard, is ranked the No. 2 overall player and No. 1 combo guard in the 2026 247Sports Composite Rankings. His connection to Duke runs deep — he plays for the same high school program that produced current Blue Devils Darren Harris and Patrick Ngongba, as well as former stars Trevor Keels and Jeremy Roach.
Earlier this summer, Smith narrowed his list of schools to six: Duke, Georgetown, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, and Syracuse. He recently wrapped up an official visit to Arkansas and is expected to visit Kentucky next. However, with Duke’s long-standing pursuit and Smith’s growing comfort with Scheyer and the program, the Blue Devils appear to be pulling ahead.
Events like Countdown to Craziness have a way of leaving a lasting impression on recruits, and it’s easy to see why. The atmosphere inside Cameron Indoor Stadium is unlike anywhere else in college basketball — an environment that often seals the deal for top prospects.
In a previous interview with Rivals, Smith spoke highly of Scheyer and what Duke represents:
“They want me to come in, help them win a national championship, and reach my goals in every way possible. They want to build my character as a young man and develop me into the player I want to be. I love Jon Scheyer — he’s a great recruiter. I have two teammates who speak very highly of him, so I’m excited to see what they do this year and how he plays them.”
With his deep connections to the program, respect for Scheyer’s leadership, and firsthand experience of Duke’s electric atmosphere, all signs point toward a commitment that could come sooner rather than later.
Simply put, the Blue Devils are closing in fast on Jordan Smith Jr. — and the rest of college basketball is taking notice.
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