Syracuse basketball 5-star priority recruit Jordan Smith having magical season in DMV

Jordan Smith Jr., the Syracuse basketball priority recruit from the Washington, D.C., market, was an All-American as a sophomore a campaign ago.

In the 2024-25 season, as a junior, the 2026 five-star shooting guard has put forth another All-American stanza.

The 6-foot-3 Smith, ranked in the top five nationally of his class by several recruiting services, played a key role as his Northern Virginia program recently captured two titles in the loaded Washington Catholic Athletic Conference ("WCAC"), which is one of the country's premier high school basketball leagues.

Not too long ago, Smith was named to the WCAC's All-League first team. Also making this squad was 2026 five-star wing Qayden Samuels of Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., who holds a scholarship offer from the Orange staff.

As national media outlets come out with their All-America teams for the 2024-25 season, I'd be stunned if Smith isn't included. The junior at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., also has a Syracuse basketball offer and unofficially visited the 'Cuse last September.

Syracuse basketball continues to prioritize 2026 5-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr.

Recently, St. Paul VI won the WCAC tournament championship, beating another excellent program, Gonzaga College High School in D.C., by a final count of 58-54 in the final game. Smith went full beast mode in the Panthers' triumph, tallying a ridiculous 29 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Currently, St. Paul VI (27-5) ranks just outside the top 10 nationally, according to both ESPN and MaxPreps. In 2024-25, St. Paul VI also claimed a share or outright WCAC regular-season title for the fourth year in a row, which is tremendous, and the team is now competing in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association ("VISAA") state tourney.

A season ago, St. Paul VI was the runner-up at the Chipotle Nationals. I'll be curious to see if the Panthers land an invite to this spring's Chipotle Nationals, an annual eight-team event that will take place from April 3 to April 5 in Fishers, Ind., and ultimately crown a national champion in high school basketball.

Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry and assistant coach Brenden Straughn, who both have deep ties to Smith's AAU program, the D.C.-based Team Takeover in Nike's EYBL league, have recruited Smith hard for a while now.

Numerous blue-blood programs and other heavyweights in collegiate hoops are pursuing Smith, but I do think the 'Cuse has a shot to prevail in his recruitment.