Duke’s pursuit of five-star prospect Jordan Smith remains one it wants to win, but as the cycle continues to unfold, the idea of landing
For much of his recruitment, Duke has been in the race, but it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows due to John Calipari and Arkansas.
However, according to On3’s Joe Tipton, the battle is seemingly down to two programs, with Arkansas potentially being the favorite now due to the latest recruiting news.
“It feels like, since the summer, this recruitment has mainly been a battle between Duke and Arkansas,” Tipton wrote. “However, when the Blue Devils landed a commitment from five-star PG Deron Rippey Jr., things could’ve shifted for Smith, allowing Arkansas to pull in front.”
While Duke’s ability to attract elite talent is rarely questioned, a starting spot might be something Smith is looking for as a guarantee. The addition of Deron Rippey gives Duke a huge piece, but it could complicate things.
For Smith, who likely wants the ball in his hands and a clear pathway to score at will, his decision could be even more confusing now.
Meanwhile, Arkansas continues to loom large and is doing what it has to in order to land him.
“Razorbacks head coach John Calipari flew to Missouri to watch him play on Thursday. Even with the recent Arkansas buzz, Duke’s Jon Scheyer isn’t going down without a fight. He was in to watch him on Monday at Hoophall. I’m still not ready to count out the Blue Devils.”
Arkansas’ appeal is obvious, as Calipari offers a proven track record of developing NBA guards. Not just guards who get to the NBA, but guards who can be All-Star and All-NBA players at the highest level.
Still, Duke is Duke, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them go all in for Rippey and him to play together.
It remains uncertain what could happen from now until he commits, but landing Smith would be as nice of a get as Duke could get at this stage. With the portal as a chance to land other very good players, there’s a lot of time to get some great additions on top of the high school players.