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UNC Basketball Follows Duke Into Battle for High-Octane Five-Star

Stock-rising 2026 guard Jordan Smith Jr. received a pair of Tobacco Road offers in one weekend.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball recruiting target Jordan Smith Jr.
UNC basketball recruiting target Jordan Smith Jr. / Greta Cross/Springfield News-Leader /
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Five-star prospect Jordan Smith Jr. attends Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.), which has produced four Duke basketball players this decade: Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels, along with 2024-25 Blue Devil freshmen Patrick Ngongba II and Darren Harris. Yet despite the pipeline that archrival Jon Scheyer enjoys in Durham, UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis has officially entered the Jordan Smith Jr. sweepstakes.

ALSO READ: Slick 2026 Guard Derron Rippey Jr. Appears on UNC Recruiting Radar

On Friday afternoon, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard, who has already climbed four spots this summer to No. 8 overall on the 247Sports 2026 Composite by putting his attack-mode repertoire on full display in grassroots action, became the Blue Devils' first 2026 offer recipient.

And on Sunday evening, Smith revealed on social media that his offer sheet now includes UNC:

Just before Smith began building that Tobacco Road offer collection, Rivals' Rob Cassidy forecasted what ultimately unfolded in the growing race, although his "down the road" timeline was a bit off considering it was only hours after Cassidy published his article when Duke extended an offer and a couple of days later when UNC followed suit:

"Louisville, Providence, Miami, Syracuse, Houston, Michigan, and others are all involved with Smith. Expect to see some blueblood involvement down the road, however, as nearby Duke and North Carolina have been kicking the tires on the guard's recruitment through backchannels."

Jordan Smith Jr. became the fourth among current rising high school juniors to land an offer from Hubert Davis.

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Matt Giles

MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, 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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