Jordan Smith Gives Duke High Marks as Blue Devils Turn Up the Heat in 2026 Recruitment Chase
The Duke Blue Devils are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of one of the nation’s top high school talents — and it seems their efforts are paying off.
Jordan Smith, the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 1 shooting guard in the 2026 247Sports Composite Rankings, is drawing intense attention from several blue-blood programs — but Duke is standing out.
In a recent interview with 247Sports insider Dushawn London, Smith had high praise for the Blue Devils after his official visit to Durham last November.
>“I really like Duke and how they’re changing the program around,” Smith said. “The coaches always treated me like family when I went up to visit them. It was really fun. I saw my teammates, and it was a good vibe with them.”
That sense of connection may be rooted in familiarity. Smith plays at Paul VI Catholic (VA), a high school that has become a pipeline to Durham, producing former and current Duke players like Jeremy Roach, Trevor Keels, Darren Harris, and Patrick Ngongba II.
Smith has taken two official visits so far — Duke and Louisville — and is being heavily recruited by a strong group of schools including Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgetown, and Syracuse. Still, Duke’s personal approach and existing ties may give them an edge.
With 19 offers already on the table — including a recent one from Indiana’s Darian DeVries — Smith’s recruitment is just heating up. But the stakes for Duke are high, especially with future roster uncertainty.
While Jon Scheyer’s 2025-26 backcourt is projected to feature Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Darren Harris, and freshman Cayden Boozer, nothing is guaranteed. Evans, who committed to return for his sophomore season, has also entered the 2025 NBA Draft early entry list and will attend the combine. Duke also recently added high-flying transfer Cedric Coward, but he too could be NBA-bound after a breakout season.
Should the Blue Devils lose both Coward and Evans, the door swings wide open for a player like Smith to step in and make an immediate impact. His combination of length, skill, and scoring instincts would fit perfectly in Scheyer’s evolving system — and help solidify Duke’s future at the guard position.
As the 2026 class unfolds, Jordan Smith remains one of the most intriguing names to watch. And for now, Duke is firmly in the hunt.
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