Syracuse Basketball: 5-star guard, top-20 player, high on ‘Cuse, eyes visit

Jordan Smith Jr., a 2026 five-star shooting guard from the talent-rich Washington, D.C., area, says in an interview that he really likes Syracuse basketball and is eyeing a visit to the Orange at some point.

The 6-foot-3 Smith, a top-20 national prospect in the sophomore class, picked up a scholarship offer from the ‘Cuse coaching staff in early May, he disclosed in a post on X at that time.

In a Q&A that Smith conducted via YouTube that was posted on the Baseline2Baseline page, he touched on a variety of topics, including his play at recent showcase events, the latest AAU season, his upcoming high-school campaign, and his recruitment, among other things.

https://twitter.com/LoudHouseFS/status/1710290670559088835

By the way, Smith’s recruiting process likely has a way to go. College coaches can’t initiate direct communication with 2026 players until June 15 of next year, for example. Prospects in this class can’t start taking official visits until next summer as well.

That being said, Smith’s early offer sheet is already impressive, with suitors such as Syracuse basketball, Villanova, George Mason, Providence, Mount St. Mary’s, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Maryland and Georgetown.

Syracuse basketball will face tough competition for 2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr.

Smith attends the powerhouse St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., and he runs on the AAU circuit with a top-flight program, the Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league.

As I’ve noted on many occasions, the Syracuse basketball coaching staff has extensive connections and ties to both St. Paul VI and Team Takeover.

In recent weeks, according to media reports and social media posts from recruiting experts, Smith has taken visits to both Georgetown and Maryland. In the YouTube interview, he was asked about schools he wants to visit and has a high interest in at this point in his recruitment.

Smith mentioned a few college squads here, such as the ‘Cuse, Villanova, Kansas State and Maryland.

When I wrote this column, he was No. 17 overall, No. 4 at shooting guard and No. 1 in Virginia within the 2026 class, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. On3, by the way, has Smith at No. 11 across the country in this cycle.

These days, Smith is turning his attention toward his sophomore year in the 2023-24 season for St. Paul VI after a productive AAU term with Team Takeover. But he’s also competed in some other big-time events in recent months.

In June, for example, Smith participated in the 2023 Nike Elite 100 Camp. In August, On3 national analyst Jamie Shaw named Smith as his MVP at the 11th-annual CP3 Rising Stars National Camp in Winston-Salem, N.C.

From October 6 to October 8 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Smith was among 85 high-school prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes who were expected to compete at a USA Basketball junior national team minicamp.