Jordan Smith Jr. Recruit Update – Talks Kentucky, Duke, And Others After Big Blue Madness Visit!

The Sleepers react to the latest news on Jordan Smith Jr.’s recruitment!

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top three prospect in the class of 2026. The 62 200lb shooting guard out of Washington DC, Jordan Smith Jr. is coming off a visit to Big Blue Madness, which uh I did a video with Greg on the channel, Riley, and we were talking about Big Blue Madness. I said to him, and I I really mean this at my at my heart of heart here. I know that, you know, some Kentucky fans don’t necessarily like me. I know the Jimmy Jams of the world aren’t the biggest fans of me, but I find it really hard to be a high school recruit and showing up to Big Blue Madness and not being moved by that. Like, Rup Arena was rocking. There was all types of people in there. It was filled all the way to the top. Even in an era where it’s like, “Oh, our past Kentucky players going to come back.” Like, John Wall was in the building doing the dance with Mark Pope and Mark Pope was fitted. Shout out to my guy. But I could see like why that atmosphere and why everything about that would be very much moving to a prospect. And I’m sure that Jordan Smith was able to feel that as he did point out that the the environment was just crazy there. But before we talk about um his other top six schools and I guess maybe where Kentucky factors into this, Riley, I’ll throw it to you because I don’t know if you and I have personally talked about Jordan Smith Jr. on the channel yet before. So give me your your thoughts on his game. Yeah. Uh, I mean, he is going to get called a dog like every time he plays. That’s always going to be in the discussion just because he plays so hard. He has that athletic frame. You know, he’s known as an onball defender and just has that athleticism and that mentality, I think, to be a differencemaker on the defensive end from from day one. I think beyond that, too, it’s it’s more than just the the physical tools and the defense, though, and the bulldog mentality. He averaged 20 points per game on the EBL circuit with Team Takeover this past summer. And I almost always buy into Team Takeover kids. I almost always buy into Paul the six kids and he checks both of those boxes. Can just do so much on the court even if there’s some question marks with his jumper. The only knock I would have on him is I I get he’s got I think a six 67 or 68 wingspan. We say that so much on this show and it’s like all the the the brain rot even gets to us cringey old dudes. We can’t we can’t help it. Us US users even get affected by it. But anyway, I know he’s got like the plus wingspan, but he’s only listed at 6’2. Um, and I think I I still view him as a more of a wing than like a true point guard. I think whoever lands his services will probably pitch him on becoming that that lead guard who can truly initiate. Between that, I think the jumper, those are the biggest question marks to where he feels a little a little less safe or maybe even like slightly higher bust potential than your typical top five prospect, but still really like him. I mean, it’s tough to not just enjoy watching him play basketball. Yeah, I think that, you know, his I think his ceiling might be a little bit capped because of size and jumper questions, but maybe one of like the maybe and maybe this is the wrong way to go about it. One of the safer floors just because he’s such a two-way monster like he might be 6’2, but he uses that 67 wingspan to his ability. He’s a crazy athlete. He’s built like a a damn linebacker, you know, 6’2, 200 lb. He’s he’s cut up and he’s just a dog defensively and a dog on offense where he’s able to use his body. He did some really really good things um offensively and that impressed me in the9 team that won a gold medal where he was one of the few 2026 kids to make that team too. So uh I was very much impressed with this game. I just anytime a top five recruit competes on both ends and maybe it’s just me being the oldhead 32-year-old unk in me. But like it’s a lost art form for guys to compete on that end of the floor. And you know another player that he was with Caleb Holt is another player who I really think competes on both sides of the ball as well. But I’m a very very big Jordan Smith fan. And it sounds like the Oh, go ahead. I was going to say I think you put it well to where I said he had a higher bust potential. I think your way of saying like just a lower ceiling is a better way to put it because there’s I I think there’s a very small chance that he’s just not a good player at this level. But I think there’s a better chance for him to like his freshman year he might put up something like 10 points, four assists, four rebounds, a steal and a half or something. And it’s like, oh, he’s not a superstar, but he still does a lot of things well. He’s just not like a number one option like you might expect for someone in this in like to with a top five ranking. Yeah, I agree. And I think that’s why a lot of obviously the big coaches in the country want him. And I’ll be very interested to see kind of where he ends up going. Um the last thing I’ll say about this, first of all, everyone go read the KSR Plus article. Jacob Pulichek went like, you know, moment by moment of all his visits, uh how his visit went to Kentucky. But just a little piece of it as well that I thought was cool. He talked about meeting John Wall and he’s like legit, I was fanned out. Like cuz that’s exactly how I would be. Like I get I’m a top five recruit, but like I grew up watching John Wall and like I’m just with John Wall and seeing him at the madness. Like that’s that’d be a crazy thing for me. Um I’ll give everybody a list on next episode of what my top five fanned out players will be um on who I would meet, but that’s not what this is about. Dion, you okay? You look a little sweaty. Uh so every August, September, my air conditioning breaks and there’s just nothing I can do about it. Dude, that’s tough out in California, too. Like I mean, what what is it like 80 degrees still there today? Uh, today today’s going to be like 85 90, but like peak summer it gets to like 110, my AC just doesn’t ever hold up. I mean, it sounds like it’s a bummer that you can’t take advantage of Duncan Mechanical Solutions because Duncan Mechanical Solutions is an HVAC company based in Angola servicing the tri-state area, bringing commercial quality to the residential world with excellent customer service. You heard us talk about Duncan Mechanical last summer. If you need heating or air conditioning, kitchen or bath remodeling, or all of the above, Duncan Mechanical is the place to go in the Midwest, go to duncan mechanicalsolutions.com to take advantage and make sure you don’t wind up like Dion. Now, the other six schools that he has in his final list, he has Duke in there, he has Arkansas, Georgetown, Indiana, and Syracuse. But, uh, I guess I’ll throw it to you and ask you this. Some people are saying that Duke kind of has this wrapped up. Arkansas fans are seeing saying they feel good. This Kentucky visit went really well. He has connections to Georgetown with the whole team takeover thing. Syracuse as well, he has connections to. It was really funny the one Indiana quote that he had in there. And I I’ll I’ll read this, but like I said, make sure y’all go read that full article. Yeah, haven’t really heard much from the Indiana coaching staff. That’s all I can really tell you about them. Dere, what we doing, dog? That’s great. You can’t have recruits out here saying that about you. I think Dere is conceded defeat. That’s what I read it as. Like, come on, man. You’re Darian Dere going up against Duke and Kentucky. Like, I probably would throw it in, too. Yeah, that’s that’s fair to say. But, uh, which one of those schools, I guess, sticks out to you? I mean, with Duke, he was high school teammates with Big Pat and Darren Harris. Cal, like he wants to be an NBA guard. They got that pitch. in Georgetown. I think they literally have Team Takeovers head coach is now on the staff at Georgetown, which has put them in a good position for a lot of kids. I know Kaden Samuels is another kid that might be taking his talents to Georgetown was a team takeover kid. So, what do you what do you think with his list of schools, man? Shout out to Ed for doing what needs to be done. You know, like I you know what that I feel like everyone hates on him for like doing that or people hate on dog. Do what you got to do. Hire family members if you’re at Georgetown. get the players. Georgetown has not made I don’t think they’ve gotten an at large bid since our senior year of college car and we’ve both been out 10 years. 10 years. Don’t need to throw that out there. But true. I know. But it’s been like Yes. I’m very for if your program like Georgetown has the history if you’re trying to get right. Yes. Hire as many family members and connections as possible. That’s what he did with my guy, our guy I should say, Julius Halifanoa. He hired like his mentor from from the NBA academy to to come coach at Georgetown. So, I I do think like as silly as it might sound that does make Georgetown at least someone you can’t completely ride off, but this has felt like I I’ve kind of assumed all along Duke would get him just cuz Duke has such a a good track recorder with Paul the Six Kids. I mean, you mentioned Pat Gongville, you mentioned Darren Harris, but even Trevor Kills before him, like they they tend to lock those guys down and it’s been a pipeline recently. However, this visit to Big Blue Madness is is sort of throwing a wrench into things. And you know, I think in the world of NIO, when you when you think about how involved agents are and the finances and everything, for one, it’s like, of course, KY’s not going to struggle in that. But, you know, sometimes I do think we we try to be a little too black and white that it’s going to just be about the money or the highest bidder for all of these kids that we lose sight of the fact that like, you know, these are still 18, 19 year olds who are impressionable and who I think care about having a good experience, the presumptive one year they’re in college. And I don’t understand how you could see Ruparena packed out for that with like the straight up pyrochnic show behind you and and Mark Pope ascending from the ground with John Wall and flexing and to not want to buy into that, you know? And I got a question for you, Cart. One more to ponder, please. So, if you’re Jordan Smith, you know what? You’re probably really grateful that that you don’t see and you don’t hear when you’re at Big Blue Madness. What? Every time we touch by Cascada. Facts. Facts. You’re telling me. You’re telling me I can play for a blueb blood. I can get to the league. I can get paid and I don’t have to come out to every time we touch and act like that’s cool. Yeah. Yeah. I would sign up for that. Sounds awesome. To be honest with you, they got to get rid of that for the love cuz look, but the only thing is it’s like the only hangle I have against Duke is that that’s what they cuz they’re also just awesome making final fours and getting great recruiting classes all the time. That’s the one thing I can hate on them for being cringey during that. Uh I had my thoughts on the song Choice by all the players during that countdown to craziness. Yikes. But uh yeah, I think they’re not they’re not making Final Fours all the time. They get there every once in a while. Sorry, my fault. Way to keep me humble, Riley. But uh yeah, I think this does end up with Duke, unfortunately. But I will say that Kentucky has made up ground in my opinion. It sounds like this this this Big Blue Madness got to a point where uh they have been able to do make an impact on him. But do you think this ends up being Duke at the end of the day? I still would bet on them to seal the deal. Although it’s sometimes the presumptive favorite where it’s like, oh, it’s been wrapped from the start. That doesn’t always work out. You know, the longer it drags out. I think anytime like from a fans perspective, anytime Carolina’s in it for a kid, I’m always thinking when they’re not seen as a favorite, it’s like, nope, you probably felt this way with Michigan State before when they get into a recruitment and there’s a perceived favorite, it’s like just just keep dragging it out. Drag it out into the spring and give us a chance. So, I mean, if this does carry on past November, you got to feel good if you’re a Kentucky fan. Yeah. So, he doesn’t have I think he said he’s looking to make his decision in the spring. So, there’s a little bit of time there. Um, and you know, he’s done taking his visits. He doesn’t have any more planned as of now. So, I guess we’ll see where this ends up. But, uh, like I said, George Smith Jr. is one of my favorite players in the class. I’m very interested to see where his next stop will be. Again, when he does make that decision, we will have that update here on the