Syracuse Basketball: Brenden Straughn put in work for 5-star, but just wasn't in cards

As expected, Syracuse basketball didn't win the recruiting sweepstakes for 2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr., the nation's No. 2 senior per 247Sports and an elite DMV product.

As anticipated, Southeastern Conference member Arkansas, led by head coach and ace recruiter John Calipari, prevailed for the 6-foot-3 Smith when he revealed his college choice on Friday night. I'm wishing Jordan all the best in the SEC!

While the Orange didn't land Smith - and this is no surprise whatsoever - credit Syracuse basketball assistant coach Brenden Straughn, and the rest of the 'Cuse staff, for putting in the work for Smith. It just wasn't in the cards for Syracuse basketball to pick up Smith, and for obvious reasons.

Smith had a top six of the Orange, Arkansas, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana and Kentucky. Per a report from ESPN, Smith ultimately selected the Razorbacks over Duke, Georgetown and Syracuse.

Syracuse basketball recruited 5-star Jordan Smith Jr. hard for a long time.

Smith, recently named a McDonald's All-American for his senior year, was offered a scholarship by the Orange in early May of 2023. Led by Straughn, the 'Cuse recruited Smith longer than any other of his suitors.

Straughn traveled twice overseas to watch Smith win gold medals for USA Basketball junior national teams in international events. Straughn and other 'Cuse coaches were in for Smith in countless other settings, including on the AAU circuit, during scholastic live periods, at other showcases and at his high school.

Smith unofficially visited the Syracuse basketball program last November, as I first reported, and in September of 2024. But the Orange never got him to the Hill for an official visit.

An All-American at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., Smith is a significant contender for national player of the year honors at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. He was also a standout on the AAU circuit for the Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover in Nike's EYBL league.

Both Straughn and 'Cuse head coach Adrian Autry were previously assistants at Team Takeover. Autry was also an assistant coach at St. Paul VI back in the day. The Syracuse basketball staff has deep recruiting connections and ties to the DMV, and Smith has often spoken of his strong relationship with Straughn.

The problem for the Orange is that the team needed to have a quality 2025-26 term to have a realistic shot of getting Smith, who has said he wants to play for a winning program. By extension, the 'Cuse could have a new head coach and assistant coaching staff for 2026-27, and Smith - if he had pledged to SU - would have done so due to his relationship with Straughn, Autry and the rest of the Syracuse basketball staff.

As I noted a few days ago, the Orange isn't getting any commitments from high school seniors due to the uncertainty over the future of Autry and his assistants beyond this season. From a recruiting standpoint, Straughn did everything possible to win out for Smith.

However, the 'Cuse didn't do what it needed to do on the court in 2025-26 to grab a commitment from Smith or any other 2026 targets at the high school level.

It is what it is.