Kentucky makes top 6 for 5-star Jordan Smith Jr. with familiar foe in the way

Top point guard in 2026 has eyes on elite programs

The 2026 recruiting board just got a whole lot clearer—and Kentucky’s name is still on it.

On Monday, five-star point guard Jordan Smith Jr. trimmed his list to six schools: Kentucky, Duke, Arkansas, Georgetown, Indiana, and Syracuse. And yes, Big Blue Nation, the Wildcats are still in the hunt for the top-ranked floor general in America.

Smith, a 6-foot-2 dynamo from Paul VI (VA) and Team Takeover (EYBL), is as complete a lead guard as you’ll find at the high school level. His wingspan measures a ridiculous 6-foot-8.5, and his motor might be even longer. Smith posted monster numbers this EYBL season: 19.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and a block per game—all while locking down elite competition on both ends of the floor.

“He impacts winning in more ways than anyone else in the class,” said 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein. “His intangibles are elite, and he doesn’t even need the ball to change the game.”

Smith is a rugged defender, a forceful driver, and a high-IQ playmaker. He’s comfortable on or off the ball, with emerging range and a mid-range pull-up that’s already deadly. He shot just 25% from deep and 68% at the line this summer, but scouts expect those numbers to rise as he polishes his form.

The most encouraging sign? Smith's growth. Not just physically—though another inch or two before college wouldn’t surprise anyone—but as a decision-maker and leader. He’s a tone-setter. And Kentucky under Mark Pope is hunting tone-setters.

Smith plans to take official visits this fall. While no dates have been locked in, Kentucky is expected to host him for Big Blue Madness or another key weekend in the preseason. The Cats have yet to land their first commitment in 2026, and this would be quite the opening salvo. They do have a few other 5-star prospects in mind.

It’s early, but if Pope can close here, it would signal to the nation that Kentucky’s point guard legacy—Wall, Ulis, Fox, SGA, Sheppard—is in good hands for years to come.