Top 2027 Recruit Kaleena Smith Sets Official Visit to Syracuse Amid Rising Orange Momentum
Syracuse women’s basketball is on the rise-and now, the program is officially in the running for one of the biggest names in the high school game.
Kaleena Smith, the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2027, has scheduled an official visit to Syracuse for February 8, per 247Sports. The 5-foot-6 point guard out of Ontario Christian School in California is widely regarded as a future star, and her visit signals a major recruiting moment for the Orange.
Smith, nicknamed “Special K,” has already carved out a national profile well beyond her years. Last season, as just a sophomore, she was named California’s Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 23.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.5 steals per game. She’s not just dominating-she’s doing it with a level of poise and polish that’s rare at the high school level.
And the attention goes far beyond the stat sheet. Smith has already inked a deal with Adidas and was dubbed a “basketball phenom” by USA Today when she was just 8 years old.
Now, she’s entering the next phase of her journey, with official visits lined up at Louisville (Jan. 5), Cal (Jan. 29), and Syracuse (Feb.
8).
Make no mistake: this is elite company. Smith holds offers from national powerhouses like UConn, South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU, and Michigan. So for Syracuse to be in the mix at all-let alone hosting her for an official-is a big-time development for a program that’s steadily building under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.
Syracuse has been gaining traction since Legette-Jack took over, and the results are starting to show. After reaching the NCAA Tournament once in her first three seasons, the Orange are off to a 10-1 start this year and showing real signs of upward momentum. That kind of progress doesn’t go unnoticed by top recruits.
The timing of Smith’s visit is also notable. She’ll be on campus the same weekend Syracuse hosts Louisville at noon on Feb. 8, a marquee ACC matchup that should offer a showcase of the program’s energy and direction. It’s a chance for Smith to see the Orange up close-not just on the court, but in the culture that Legette-Jack is building.
Part of that culture includes a growing core of young talent. Freshman center Uche Izoje has already made waves in the ACC, earning Rookie of the Week honors twice this season while averaging 12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. She’s quickly becoming one of the most promising first-year players in the conference.
Senior guard Laila Phelia is leading the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game, providing veteran stability and offensive punch. And while Jasmyn Cooper hasn’t played major minutes yet-averaging 10 minutes and 3.1 points per game-she came to Syracuse as the highest-ranked recruit of the Legette-Jack era, another sign of the program’s upward recruiting trend.
Syracuse’s next game is a Friday morning matchup against Mercyhurst at the JMA Wireless Dome, but the real spotlight is already shifting to February. Hosting the nation’s top prospect could be a turning point-not just for this recruiting class, but for the trajectory of the Orange program.
If Syracuse can land a visit from a player like Kaleena Smith, they’re not just knocking on the door of national relevance-they’re starting to push it open.