The Duke basketball program is officially outlining its recruitment strategies for 2026 prospects, with Jordan Smith Jr. emerging as a key priority for the Blue Devils.
Smith Jr., a 5-star recruit, is set to visit Duke in Durham on September 14, as reported by Patrick O’Brien of Phenom Hoops. This visit is the first known one scheduled with a high school junior, which is not surprising given how quickly Jon Scheyer reached out to him this summer.
Standing 6-foot-3, Smith Jr. is ranked as the No. 8 player in the Class of 2026 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings and is among the three players in his class who have received offers from Duke.
The other two players with offers are Brandon McCoy Jr., the top-ranked player in the country, and Miikka Muurinen, a 4-star forward. At this time, Smith Jr. does not have any other known visits planned, but it is anticipated that many other major programs will extend invitations this fall.
Smith Jr. recently played for the USA Basketball U17 team, which won gold at the FIBA U17 World Cup. He averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while competing against some of the top 2025 players.
Although North Carolina has also extended an offer to Smith Jr., Duke is likely feeling optimistic about their chances, especially considering his association with Paul VI (Va.), a high school that has previously sent several players to Duke, including Jeremy Roach, Trevor Keels, Darren Harris, and Patrick Ngongba II. There is potential for Smith Jr. to continue this legacy at Duke.
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