Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Five-Star Recruit Arrives in Durham

Two Duke basketball players should come in handy as recruiting aids this weekend.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball's Cameron Indoor Stadium
Duke basketball's Cameron Indoor Stadium / Matt Giles-Duke Blue Devils On SI
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It's still early in the Jordan Smith Jr. sweepstakes. Nevertheless, it's safe to say the Duke basketball staff is as active as any in pursuing the Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.) junior standout.

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Smith, a five-star guard who ranks No. 7 overall and No. 1 in Virginia on the 247Sports 2026 Composite, began his weekend visit with the Blue Devils on Friday. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound turbocharged talent posted a picture from the top of the Duke Chapel to announce his arrival on campus.

Presumably, two 2024-25 Duke basketball freshmen will be pitching in when it comes to making Smith feel right at home in Durham. After all, guard/forward Darren Harris and center Patrick Ngongba II were Smith's teammates last season at Blue Devil pipeline school Paul VI Catholic.

Louisville, Georgetown, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Syracuse are Jordan Smith Jr.'s other notably active suitors. But he holds well over a dozen offers, including one from the UNC basketball coaches roughly 10 miles down Tobacco Road from Duke.

Smith received his offer from third-year Blue Devil head coach Jon Scheyer in late July.

"Duke is a rich program," Smith recently pointed out to ZAGSBLOG's Matt Whitfield while exhibiting his high-powered game on both ends of the floor at the USA Basketball Junior National Team October Minicamp in Colorado Springs, Colo. "It's a Paul VI pipeline, people say. I just like it overall."

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Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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