Syracuse Basketball: 247Sports' analysts make prediction on 5-star guard Jordan Smith

Jordan Smith Jr., the long-time Syracuse basketball 2026 priority recruiting target, could come off the board in the next week or so, analysts say.

The Orange staff, led by assistant coach Brenden Straughn, has recruited the 6-foot-3 Smith as long as any other suitor for the nation's No. 2 senior. And yes, the 'Cuse resides in Smith's top six. However, Syracuse basketball isn't going to prevail for him, due in large part to the team's sub-par 2025-26 season and the uncertainty surrounding the Orange coaching staff's future.

On Tuesday, the 247Sports staff logged a prediction in Arkansas' direction for the five-star shooting guard, assigning a high confidence rating of seven. For a while, Duke appeared to have the most analyst buzz for Smith, but now that goes to the Razorbacks and their head coach, ace recruiter John Calipari.

While I've yet to come across other official projections for Smith from other national analysts, the chatter behind the scenes is that Southeastern Conference member Arkansas has the momentum for him as Smith's recruitment approaches the finish line.

Syracuse basketball isn't going to win out for 2026 5-star guard Jordan Smith Jr.

Smith has a final six of the Orange, Arkansas, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana and Kentucky. Not too long ago, he was named a McDonald's All-American for the 2025-26 campaign. Smith, a standout at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., is a significant contender for national player of the year honors this term.

The 'Cuse staff offered a scholarship to Smith in early May of 2023. Since then, Straughn and other Orange coaches have been on hand for Smith in countless settings. He has unofficially visited the Syracuse basketball program twice.

Straughn and Smith are extremely close. The issue for the Orange in Smith's recruitment is that he wants to play for a team that is thriving on the court and, unfortunately, Syracuse basketball isn't doing that, with a 13-11 record heading into its Wednesday home game against California.

Given the likelihood that the 'Cuse will have a new head coach (and assistants) next season, any shot that Syracuse basketball may have had for Smith has been tossed aside. It's a bummer, but that's the reality of where things are with the Orange, a squad that has yet to land a commit in the 2026 high school senior cycle.