John Calipari landed five-star prospect Jordan Smith, the instant heir apparent to Darius Acuff at Arkansas. It's a huge moment and a reminder of Calipari's recruiting chops.
John Calipari just found his replacement for Darius Acuff next season. Coach Cal landed the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2026, guard Jordan Smith. Arkansas beat Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgetown, and Syracuse in this recruitment. 247Sports has more:
"Smith picked Arkansas because of his relationship with Razorback head coach John Calipari and the opportunity to immediately contribute in a big way.
"'I have just all the trust in Coach (John) Calipari. His resume speaks for itself,' Smith told 247Sports. "And just what he has done with other guards in my situation who play like me and impact winning. I feel like he has done a really good job. I also feel like he is a genuine person. Character speaks a lot in today's world, and he has the best character. I relate to him a lot.'
"Calipari has a long-standing history of developing elite guards and getting them ready for the NBA Draft. Current freshman Arkansas point guard and former five-star prospect Darius Acuff is having one of the best seasons in all of college basketball. Smith certainly recognized how Calipari handles top guards and has a proven track record of success at the next level. Acuff's success this season in Fayetteville was a very easy comparison for Smith.
"'Me and Acuff are the same size and the same height, so just to see how Acuff is playing and how Calipari has put him in different positions to help him succeed and to get to the next level - I really see inspiration in that. I feel I can come in and make an impact right away, so with Calipari's help, I feel like I can do anything,' Smith explained.
"When Smith took his visit to Arkansas in the fall, Calipari's message, history, and the opportunity he presented to Smith made a lasting impression that changed the course of his recruitment.
"'I felt like home when I got there, it just felt like home,' Smith said. 'Of course, I had to take other visits just to see if it would feel the same, and honestly, the other ones didn't feel the same as (Arkansas). The first feel I got from there - it was a real high intensity practice. It looked fun there... There are really no distractions there either, so I feel like I can really do what I need to do to get to the next level.'"
Arkansas now has three top-30 prospects and the No. 5-ranked overall 2026 class. Calipari and the Razorbacks are putting themselves in position to be a Final Four contender next season. Now let's see what happens in the coming transfer portal.