Jordan Smith, Nation’s Top Shooting Guard, Commits to Arkansas and John Calipari
FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas just landed a game-changer.
Jordan Smith - a consensus 5-star prospect, McDonald’s All American, and the top-rated shooting guard in the 2026 class - has committed to John Calipari and the Razorbacks, giving Arkansas another elite piece in what’s shaping up to be a stacked recruiting class.
Smith, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound standout from Paul VI Catholic in Chantilly, Virginia, made his official visit to Fayetteville back in September. And it clearly left a mark.
“It was a really fun visit,” Smith said after the trip. “I enjoyed my time with Coach Cal.
It’s a really good place. It was more than I expected from Arkansas.”
Smith chose the Razorbacks from a final list that included blue-bloods like Duke and Kentucky, along with Georgetown, Indiana, and Syracuse. He took official visits to both Kentucky and Duke before ultimately deciding on Arkansas.
If he follows through and signs on April 15, the first day of the spring signing period, Smith will become the sixth 5-star recruit to commit to Calipari since his arrival in Fayetteville - a testament to the program’s rising profile under the Hall of Fame coach.
A Two-Way Force with a Winner’s Mentality
Smith isn’t just a scorer - he’s a complete player who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. ESPN ranks him as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2026 class, and national recruiting director Paul Biancardi didn’t hold back in his praise.
“Jordan Smith is a mature player and person,” Biancardi said. “He was the EYBL’s most impactful player this season.
He plays with a competitive spirit of a winner. He outworks everyone, physically impacts both ends of the floor, and his ball skills and shooting have improved.
He also lives at the free throw line and locks up in defense.”
Biancardi even compared Smith’s two-way impact to NBA veterans Jrue Holiday and Marcus Smart - both known for their toughness, versatility, and defensive intensity.
Smith’s resume backs it up. He helped lead Team USA to gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland last summer, averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game - showing off his ability to contribute without dominating the ball.
On the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Takeover, Smith finished eighth in scoring with 20.4 points per game while also averaging 7.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks. That kind of all-around production is rare, especially for a guard.
He’s also in the running for some major hardware this season. Smith is one of 10 semifinalists for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Player of the Year and is also on the MaxPreps National Player of the Year watch list.
Arkansas’ Recruiting Momentum Keeps Rolling
Associate head coach Chin Coleman played a key role in landing Smith, leading the charge in a recruitment that now looks like a major win for the Razorbacks.
“That’s my guy,” Smith said of Coleman. “He showed me a lot here. Taught me a lot here as well.”
Smith’s commitment continues a strong trend under Calipari, who has now landed 55 McDonald’s All Americans in his 34-year college coaching career - including at least one every year for the last two decades. Smith becomes the sixth McDonald’s All American to commit to Arkansas since Calipari took over.
He’ll join fellow 5-star and Arkansas signee JaShawn “JJ” Andrews in this year’s McDonald’s All American Game. The Razorbacks also had two players - Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas - in last year’s game, while sophomore Karter Knox and former Arkansas guard Boogie Fland played in the 2024 edition.
The class also includes small forward Abdou Toure, a 5-star by Rivals and a 4-star by ESPN and 247 Sports. Before Smith’s commitment, ESPN had already ranked Arkansas’ 2026 recruiting class No. 14 in the country - and that number’s likely to climb.
With Smith now in the fold, Arkansas isn’t just stacking stars - they’re building a roster that can compete at the highest level. And with Calipari at the helm, the Razorbacks are quickly becoming one of the most intriguing programs in the country heading into the next chapter of college basketball.