Duke Still Leads, But Five-Star SG Jordan Smith Jr.’s Recruitment Takes a Turn
While Duke remains the front-runner to land five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr., his upcoming visit to Kentucky could shift the landscape.
Smith, the No. 2 overall recruit in the country, recently wrapped up an unofficial visit to Duke on October 4, where he was accompanied by his father, Jordan Smith Sr. The visit focused more on fit and future role than on the usual recruiting flash.
“This one was more business,” said Smith Sr. “It was about the fit, where the program’s headed, and how they envision him contributing.”
Kentucky Up Next
Next on Smith’s schedule is an official visit to Kentucky on October 10, which will be his first trip to Lexington. While Kentucky is currently listed as only a “warm” candidate in his recruitment, head coach Mark Pope has shown consistent interest, visiting Smith multiple times.
This visit will join Louisville and Arkansas on Smith’s list of official stops. He has also made unofficial visits to Georgetown, Syracuse, and Louisville.
Duke Still the Favorite
Despite the upcoming Kentucky visit, recruiting insiders still view Duke as the team to beat. According to On3’s Joe Tipton, the Blue Devils are in the strongest position:
“I still classify Duke as the team to beat,” Tipton noted.
That aligns with 247Sports’ Crystal Ball Predictions, which give Duke a 100% chance of landing Smith. These projections have proven accurate more often than not, though the recruitment process is still ongoing.
Duke officially extended an offer on July 22, 2024, and hosted Smith for an official visit on November 11, 2024, shortly after his first official visit to Louisville in October. While Duke wasn’t the first to offer, they’ve remained consistently engaged.
A Competitive Top Six
On August 5, 2025, Smith named his Top 6 programs: Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, Georgetown, Syracuse, and Indiana. Georgetown was among the earliest to offer, doing so back in October 2022. Syracuse made its move in May 2024, shortly before Duke entered the mix.
With multiple visits behind him and a few more likely ahead, Smith is set for a busy close to 2025, as he weighs his options. Duke is still in control — for now — but Kentucky’s visit could shake things up.
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