While the 2025–26 Arkansas Razorbacks are busy proving they belong squarely in the SEC title conversation, and look every bit like a team capable of making a legitimate March Madness run, John Calipari is doing what he has always done best: winning now while relentlessly preparing for what comes next.
Jordan Smith Jr. Has the Tools to Be Razorbacks' Next Breakout Star
That forward-thinking mindset has Calipari locked in on one of the biggest names in high school basketball: Jordan Smith Jr., a consensus five-star guard in the 2027 recruiting class who was once viewed as a favorite to land with the Duke Blue Devils. Now he's crystal balled to end up with the Razorbacks as they look to complete the full steal.
247Sports Crystal Ball pick in for the No. 2 prospect in the 2026 class: https://t.co/Ka87NaoOPV pic.twitter.com/EUMZPpxcwq
— 247Sports (@247Sports) February 10, 2026
Smith is ranked as high as No. 2 nationally by 247Sports and no lower than No. 6 by Rivals, making him one of the premier prospects in the country regardless of class. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with a mature frame and a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Smith brings the kind of physical tools that immediately jump off the page, and off the film.
More importantly, he plays the game the way Calipari loves.
Smith is a true combo guard who can impact games on both ends of the floor. His length, strength, and motor allow him to defend multiple positions, while offensively he’s capable of scoring at all three levels and initiating offense. That two-way commitment is what makes Calipari gush about players like Smith. It’s never been about being a finished product, it’s about effort, buy-in, and the willingness to work.
And history tells us exactly what happens when elite guards buy into Calipari’s system.
As good as Arkansas looks right now, the future at point guard is already part of the conversation. Darius Acuff Jr. is widely expected to be a one-and-done, with his development under Calipari positioning him as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. That’s not a concern, it’s a feature of Calipari’s program. Great players leave, and great players replace them.
Jordan Smith Jr. is the next man Calipari wants holding the keys.
According to Hogville’s Kevin McPherson, Calipari is prepared to offer Smith the largest NIL package of any player he has ever recruited, a deal that would surpass even Acuff’s current agreement. That alone speaks volumes. Calipari doesn’t throw resources around lightly. When he identifies his guy, he goes all in.
And the pitch sells itself.
Elite guard development. NBA credibility. Immediate opportunity. Winning basketball. Financial backing. A fanbase that fully embraces its stars.
If Smith takes an honest look at what Calipari has done with elite guards who are now thriving in the NBA, and even more recently, the rapid growth of Acuff this season, it’s hard to imagine a better environment for maximizing his potential. Arkansas offers coaching, money, exposure, and a pathway to stardom without compromise.
Calipari has made it clear he wants Jordan Smith Jr. in Fayetteville.
So if the pieces are in place, the vision is clear, and the opportunity is real, the question becomes simple:
What’s the wait?
Make the move. Be all in.
Because if Jordan Smith Jr. chooses to become a Razorback, Hog Nation will be all in right back with him