No. 1 guard Jordan Smith commits to Arkansas over Duke

The No. 1 guard in the 2026 recruiting class, Jordan Smith, announced his commitment to Arkansas on Friday.

Smith, who is ESPN's No. 3-ranked recruit and a five-star prospect, picked the Razorbacks over Duke, which was considered the favorite to land him last year.

Smith cited coach John Calipari as a major reason for his decision.

"I chose Arkansas because coach Calipari can help improve my game. Playing for him is a blessing; he has had great success with many guards in the past," Smith told ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi.

The 6-foot-2 guard is likely to fill a future void, with star Darius Acuff emerging as a projected early pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Smith is Arkansas' second five-star recruit in the 2026 class, joining small forward JaShawn Andrews.