It was a big weekend for both Syracuse basketball and Syracuse football.
Each program had a five-star prospect on campus this past weekend. For Syracuse basketball, it was 2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr., as I first reported a week ago. The 6-foot-3 Smith, an elite prospect from the talent-rich DMV, is the nation's No. 2 senior, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
For Syracuse football, 2026 five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell lll was on his official visit over the weekend, according to Instagram posts. The 6-foot-5 Russell, a top-flight player from Florida, is verbally committed to the Orange. He wrote on Instagram, along with some photos of his official visit, "In Due Time #CuseNation #Blessed."
This fall, analysts have speculated that Russell is a flip target ahead of the early signing period, which comes in December. However, Russell has now visited the 'Cuse twice this fall, and he's shut down any speculated rumors about Miami or any other suitor flipping him away from Syracuse football.
Syracuse football and basketball had five-star visitors this past weekend.
Smith's unofficial visit to Syracuse basketball on Sunday was his second one to the Orange. He also unofficially visited the 'Cuse in September of last year. The All-American at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., has the Orange in his top six, and Smith is likely to sign during the regular period for 2026 prospects next April.
Duke has some analyst buzz in Smith's recruitment, although no team has prioritized him for longer than the 'Cuse staff, which has deep ties to Smith's high school and AAU programs in the Washington, D.C., area. Syracuse basketball remains in search of its first 2026 verbal commit, and Smith is a top priority, along with five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. from New York City.
Russell, meanwhile, is expected to sign during the early period with Syracuse football, and he's also likely to play for Syracuse basketball, at least initially. The chatter is that Russell, a standout at Miami Northwestern Senior High School, will enroll at SU for the upcoming spring semester and be on campus come January.
A top-25 national prospect per 247Sports, Russell is the highest-rated commit for Syracuse football in more than two decades. He's also one of several highly ranked prospects from the Sunshine State in the Orange's top-30 national class in the 2026 cycle.
This past weekend, Russell's Miami Northwestern teammate, 2026 four-star defensive back Tedarius Hughes, was also on the Hill for the 'Cuse game against North Carolina on Friday night at the JMA Wireless Dome. Hughes is verbally pledged to Florida State.