Hustle With Muscle: Scouting 5-star CG Jordan Smith

Scouting 5-star guard Jordan Smith: What makes his elite defense special, how his offense is evolving, and why his winning mindset sets him apart

Note: This story was originally published in August at The Devils Den, the 247 Sports site dedicated to covering Duke. With TDD’s permission, I’m sharing my scouting report on Jordan Smith here as well. Big thanks to the team over there for their flexibility.

For much of the past decade, Paul VI Catholic has consistently produced Division I talent for the ACC, Big East, and Big Ten. The program’s East Coast pipeline is especially strong between the DMV and Durham, North Carolina. Since Jeremy Roach in the 2020 class, Duke has landed four Top-40 prospects from PVI, including current sophomores Patrick Ngongba and Darren Harris. Jordan Smith — a Duke target and former teammate of both — has the potential to be the best of the group.

Heading into his senior season, Smith, a Top-5 Prospect in the 2026 class, is coming off an impressive offseason. He started for a dominant Team USA squad at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland and showcased his scoring ability at Nike EYBL and Peach Jam.

Let’s take a deeper look at Smith’s game to see what makes him one of the most promising two-way guard prospects in recent memory.

Physical Profile & POA Defense

Smith’s physical tools jump off the screen. At 6-foot-2, he may not have elite height, but he more than makes up for it with a sturdy frame, a reported 6-foot-9 wingspan, and elite quickness and anticipation.

He’s a disruptive presence at the point of attack. With broad shoulders, strong hands and heady instincts, Smith consistently plays bigger than his size. He has the physical profile, tools and mindset to be a lockdown on-ball defender and a high-level screen navigator.

Smith has a good base and plays with a low center of gravity, allowing him to defend as a 1-on-1 stopper in space and apply significant pressure in pick-and-roll coverages. If the defensive scheme wants to put two on the ball with the screen defender up at the level of the pick, Smith can heat things up with his hands. If the defense is in drop coverage against the ball screen, Smith has the strength and balance to slide around picks, along with the length and motor to be a nuisance in rearview pursuit.

Texas Tech point guard Christian Anderson (3), who played with Germany, was one of the top offensive performers at the FIBA U19 World Cup this summer, turning in a strong showing against Team USA with 18 points and nine assists, including plenty of splash plays. It was fun to watch Anderson, now entering his sophomore season in Lubbock, go head-to-head with Smith when the matchup presented itself.

While Anderson posted impressive counting stats, he was held to 6-of-19 shooting (31.6 FG%) and committed four turnovers as he tried to navigate Team USA’s athleticism while running the offense. That’s no small task. Most of his scoring came out of ball screens, often while being defended by Louisville’s Mikel Brown or Washington’s JJ Mandaquit. Just one of Anderson’s made field goals came against Smith, who consistently applied pressure and chased well over the top of screens.

On this play, Germany runs a staggered double high ball screen action (“77”) for Anderson, with Team USA in drop coverage — both Morez Johnson (13) and Koa Peat (4) are positioned below the level of the screens. That leaves Smith responsible for contesting any pull-up jumper from Anderson. He does exactly that, navigating a screen from UConn center Eric Reibe (12) and providing a strong rear contest as Anderson misses the deep shot.

Switching onto Syracuse guard Luke Fennell (5) after a handoff exchange against Australia, Smith stays engaged as the play flows into a middle ball screen from Goc Malual (10), with Peat (Arizona) in drop coverage several feet below the level of the screen.

Drop coverage is designed to encourage ball handlers to settle for tough midrange 2-pointers, which is exactly what the 6-foot-5 Fennell looks for here, pulling up for what initially appears to be a clean elbow jumper, while Peat stays in the lane to contain Malual on the roll. However, the shot quickly turns into a heavily contested attempt, as Smith uses his 6-foot-9 wingspan to chase from behind. He manages to alter or block the jumper, and Peat secures the rebound. This is textbook pick-and-roll defense from Smith.

There’s a tenacity to Smith’s individual defense. He embraces any assignment, and with his length, he can scale up or down to guard multiple positions. He’s well-suited for modern defensive schemes that rely heavily on switching.

In this early drag screen action from Australia, Smith switches onto Pittsburgh commit Roman Siulepa (8) — a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward and one of Australia’s top rugby prospects. Working at a size disadvantage, Smith immediately pressures Siulepa’s handle, forcing him sideways. Siulepa ultimately trips over Smith’s foot — a fortunate break stemming from Smith’s physical defense. Smith quickly capitalizes, diving to the floor to force a tie-up.

Team USA switches this fourth-quarter pick-and-roll against France: Peat switches out on the super-skilled Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada (4), while Smith takes Mohamed Diakite (5), another talented forward prospect in the Paris Pipeline. For a split second, Diakite has inside leverage on Smith, spinning and rolling into space with Smith behind him. However, as the pass is lobbed toward Diakite, Smith makes a break on the ball and uses his length to slap it away from the target, resulting in a steal. Daniel Jacobsen (15) grabs the loose ball and outlets to Smith, who pressures the rim and finds a streaking Peat for the transition layup.

Team Defense

As potent as Smith can be on the ball, he also provides tremendous value as a game-changing help defender. This is one of many areas where Smith’s team-first mentality, competitive spirit and top-notch motor take over, blending with his elite defensive traits to impact the opposing offense at all levels of the floor. Smith is in gaps with his length, he’s at the rim with weak-side protection and he’s constantly pestering passing lanes. If an offensive player is careless with a pass, dribble or exchange in his neighborhood, Smith will take advantage.

In the final, Germany clears out the right side of the floor to run an inverted pick-and-pop featuring two of its top players: Anderson, defended by Smith, and Washington big man Hannes Steinbach (6). Peat does an excellent job staying attached to Steinbach on his drive following Anderson’s slip screen. But as Steinbach begins to work in the post, Smith blindsides him with a well-timed dig — stunting off Anderson from one pass away and ripping the ball loose for a steal.

Smith is a high-impact defensive playmaker who creates lots of events, generating steals and blocks in impressive fashion. At the U19 World Cup this summer, he recorded 19 combined steals and blocks (14 steals, 5 blocks) over 128 minutes — averaging 5.94 combined steals and blocks per 40 minutes.

Team USA applies full-court pressure against Canada, with Smith defending the inbounds passer. Butler guard Efeosa Oliogu (11) attempts to loft the ball over Smith, but Smith anticipates the pass, quickly raising his hands to deflect it and force a turnover. BYU wing AJ Dybantsa (7) wins the scramble for the loose ball, while Smith relocates to the left corner and eventually receives a swing pass from Mandaquit (5), where he nails the open 3-pointer.

Smith’s blocks and steals numbers are significant, though they capture only a portion of his defensive impact. He elevates team-wide defensive efficiency through his ability to rotate effectively and consistently be in the right place at the right time, hitting all the right notes.

Early in the game vs. France, Smith switches a down screen with Brown (9) and lands on ASVEL guard Yohann Sissoko (3), who then spaces to the left corner. Right after, France sets up to run middle pick-and-roll with Cholet guard Soren Bracq (22) receiving a handoff from forward Noa Kouakou-Heugue (10). As Kouakou-Heugue rolls, Johnson (Michigan) is below the level of the screen but further up the floor on this occasion, which means Smith must peel off Sissoko in the corner to tag Kouakou-Heugue. When Smith bumps Kouakou-Heugue in the paint, Bracq makes a good read and skips to Sissoko in the corner. As the ball is in flight, Smith takes off and covers a serious amount of ground, closing out on Sissoko and using his left hand to block this 3-point attempt.

This is obviously great hustle and closing speed from Smith, who has everything on display, including his anticipation and defensive processing. Smith averaged 1.5 blocks per 40 minutes at the U19 World Cup, which was tied with New Zealand/Wisconsin guard Hayden Jones for the highest per minute average at the event among guards. Smith is a thinker, but he’s not getting lost in the details as he moves defensively. He’s in motion, gliding from one responsibility to the next.

Later on against France, Sissoko attacks Brown 1-on-1 with Smith defending the weak-side corner. Sissoko spins left into the paint, which draws help from Peat. Kouakou-Heugue makes a good read and cuts behind Peat. As he receives the pass in the paint, Kouakou-Heugue is placed in a precarious position — behind the basket with defenders closing in on him. These moments, however, can be good opportunities to find teammates in front of the rim with drop-off passes if the defense gets caught in the air. Kouakou-Heugue tries to pass back to one of his cutting teammates, but Smith is there to meet him, swatting the ball out of the air and into Peat’s hands.

With the USA holding a five-point lead late in the game against Canada, the Canadians run drag pick-and-roll action — Sam Houston State center Matthew Dann (12) screens for Arizona State target Jordan Charles (4). Johnson is in drop coverage, and Smith navigates Dann’s screen perfectly, gliding over the top and sticking with Charles. As Charles drives into the paint, he does a beautiful job manipulating Johnson — faking a runner attempt to get Johnson to leave his feet before hitting Dann on the roll. Often, this would result in a dunk, but Charles has to put a little air under his pass to get it over Johnson, which is exactly what Smith needs. Smith deflects the ball, and as the 6-foot-11 Dann recovers and goes up for a layup attempt, Smith is instantly airborne, swatting away a high-percentage shot at a critical moment in the game.

This guy just makes winning plays, time after time. Unsurprisingly, Team USA outscored Canada by a game-high +12 with Smith on the floor — a key difference in a contest they won by just six points.

Hustle With Muscle

One of the many endearing qualities of Smith’s game is his competitive spirit. He’s a ball of energy who refuses to give up on plays, often making multiple efforts to close things down.

This tenacity translates to his impact on the glass, where his work rate and ball-tracking skills make him a talented two-way rebounder. He’s a magnet for long rebounds and more than capable of battling big men in the paint for contested boards.

For instance, as this 3-point attempt bricks off, Smith crashes in from the weak-side corner and soars above Cameroon’s 7-foot-1 center Amadou Seini (who has plenty of Division I interest) to grab the ball. Before he can fully secure the rebound, though, it’s slapped out as Smith lands. This creates another loose-ball situation — one Smith is determined to win. He’s the first to the floor, beating Seini, and gathers the loose ball with his left arm fully extended.

Smith’s relentless drive to see every play through shines consistently in his performance. It may sound cliche, but it’s meaningful: his readiness to give maximum effort often results in game-changing moments.

In the closing minutes of the win over Australia, Team USA holds a safe, double-digit lead. With a bit of highlight chasing, Dybantsa’s wild dunk attempt misses badly and leads to a runout the other way. UConn guard Jacob Furphy (3) pushes the break and drives straight to the opposite rim. Furphy tries to sneak in a quick layup; Smith, however, has other ideas. He races in from the corner and sticks to Furphy, matching him stride for stride. When Furphy tries to hang in the air and finish on the left side of the rim, he’s met at the summit by a soaring Smith who pins the attempt off the glass. Of course, Smith then quickly races back into the play to try and grab the rebound as well.

With only seconds left against Team USA, Australia runs a baseline out-of-bounds play. Dybantsa and Smith switch the off-ball screening action. Furphy sails the pass as he tries to throw it long to Ajak Nyuon (15). The ball goes over the heads of two Australian players, both of whom appear to be closer to the ball than Smith. As the ball takes a bounce, though, Smith hits the jets, blowing by the two Aussies and winning the race to the 50-50 ball, which he cashes in on the other end with a layup over the 6-foot-10 Nyuon.

This is a bad pass from Furphy, and the game is all but over; however, Smith remains undeterred, continuing to play the game the right way. You want to bet on players who can harness this kind of passion for the game.

Creation Offense

Context and roster construction are key factors in determining how Smith functions on offense. When playing alongside ball-dominant teammates on Team USA — like Brown, Dybantsa and, to some extent, Peat — the versatile Smith shifts into a 3-and-D role, operating from the corners and wings, knocking down open jumpers, attacking closeouts and cutting to the basket. This usage pattern also allows Smith to expend even more energy on the defensive side of the floor.

It’s a different story, though, when Smith suits up for PVI or Team Takeover in EYBL play. In those settings, he transitions from a spot-up role to that of a primary initiator. In fact, Smith is a creative and efficient playmaker who can handle the ball and lead an offense.

There’s a Jrue Holiday-style component to his game — one that extends beyond his frisky on-ball defense and malleability on offense. He can play as a power guard on offense. Smith combines strength with exceptional body control, making him a tough cover off the dribble. He’s difficult to dislodge as a driver, often using his shoulders like battering rams to create space and maintain his line.

Moreover, Smith boasts an advanced finishing package in the paint. Even when he doesn’t win the race to the rim, Smith is capable of adjusting his body or the ball midair to complete a variety of acrobatic finishes through traffic.

Despite his physical nature, Smith is bendy enough to get into tight spaces, thanks in part to a functional handle.

Smith can get to his spots on the floor. Some of his pick-and-roll activity is fairly advanced, and Smith has counters that he can use to probe and attack against different coverages.

Extending further out, Smith has midrange scoring craft and touch on his jumper. If he sees drop coverage, Smith can simply look for his pull-up jumper.

There’s definitely a lot to like about his passing as well. He’s more than just a scorer in live-ball situations; Smith is a smart decision-maker who reads multiple levels of the floor and uses his rim pressure to create openings for teammates.

Here against France, Smith runs empty-corner pick-and-roll with Peat on the right side of the floor. Smith is comfortable handling with either hand. As he drives left, France shows early help at the nail, creating the easy kick-out pass to Brown for a left wing 3-ball.

If the defense collapses into the paint to take away the roll man, Smith can read basic weak-side coverages and pick out teammates for catch-and-shoot looks from deep. Here’s a good skip pass from Smith to a spot-up shooter out of “Spain/Stack” pick-and-roll action.

In the second quarter against France, Smith receives a pass from Mandaquit near mid-court. With the French defense slightly scrambled, Smith capitalizes on the advantage and looks to attack downhill. Once again, he uses his power and long strides to explode through the second level of the defense, drawing in the rim protector and leaving Johnson open in the restricted area. Playing heads-up basketball, Smith avoids the charge and delivers a sharp pass to Johnson for the dunk.

As Smith continues to develop, it’ll be interesting to see which role suits him best. He’ll need to keep improving as a long-range shooter, especially off the dribble, and I’d like to see more flashes of his playmaking upside — particularly in terms of his passing craft. Thanks to his plug-and-play versatility, Smith can fit into virtually any system or role. That said, there are long-term scenarios where he emerges as a franchise-defining player in the NBA. There’s no need to rush that development, but his on-ball equity will be a key factor in determining his ultimate ceiling.

Scalable Offense

While Smith is capable of providing usage and a large share of the creation load on offense, his team-first mentality shines through with how he functions on offense in certain settings. This was apparent during Smith’s sophomore season at PVI, when he played alongside a senior class that included Harris, Ngongba (who missed much of the 2023-24 season), Virginia Tech point guard Ben Hammond, Notre Dame power forward Garrett Sundra and Georgetown forward Isaiah Abraham. As he evolved into a fixture with the Team USA system, the same malleability was on display: Smith will guard his ass off on defense and then shift into a lower-usage role on offense, one that has him running the floor in transition, spotting up along the perimeter, working as a cutter and crashing the offensive glass.

The may sound simple, but it’s rare — and special — when a Top-5 prospect is willing to adapt his game, dial back his own scoring and focus on the little things that help win games. In these pockets of activity, Smith flashes skills and traits that speak to his feel for the game. For example: Smith’s off-ball cutting highlights his feel for the game: his timing, spatial awareness and ability to read and react off of teammates all stand out.

His movement and timing on this cut are excellent. As Team USA runs its zone offense against Jordan, Brown collapses the top of the zone with a ball fake and a drive down the middle pocket. As the defense pulls in, he kicks it out to Brandon McCoy (12) on the wing, creating a closeout opportunity for McCoy to attack. When McCoy drives baseline, the weak-side defenders peel into the paint. With Nik Khamenia (14) spaced in the corner, Smith could simply stay put on the left wing and wait for a potential kick-out. Instead, he stays active and makes a sharp read — darting into the heart of the zone before the weak-side defense even registers his movement.

Trailing Canada by one point in the World Cup quarterfinals, the United States appears set to run staggered ball screens (“77”) for Brown, with Smith spaced on the left to the strong-side corner. Brown rejects the screens from Khamenia and Johnson and drives downhill to his left. The strong-side help defender digs at the ball, giving Smith a bit of space in the corner.

Once again, Smith could remain stationary along the perimeter and wait for a kick-out pass. But with his defender higher up the floor, he chooses to cut instead. Brown finds him in stride, and Smith makes a tough catch before powering through contact to finish over the 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux (32).

Smith is a patient cutter with a willingness to invert the offense and operate from the dunker spots. Bigs who can pass will enjoy playing with him, as he consistently finds pockets of space around the rim for quick interior feeds.

Attacking against Australia, Smith delivers a post-entry pass to Peat, then cuts from the wing to the opposite dunker spot. As the Aussies double-team Peat, Smith is left open. Peat finds him, and Smith finishes with some pop and some strength — displacing the rotating defender with a bump and finishing at the cup.

Here’s a similar play from last summer’s U17 World Cup. This time on the opposite side of the floor, Smith enters the ball to Peat in the post and cuts through the lane to the right dunker spot. He could eject to the corner, but instead, he holds his ground in the dunker spot. When the second defender arrives, Peat finds Smith for a dunk.

Smith’s 3-point jumper is still a work in progress, but there’s plenty of low-hanging fruit to build on. I’m optimistic about his long-term projection as a shooter. He has a very repeatable motion off the catch — a compact release with clean energy transfer and a quick load time. There’s no wasted movement.

As Brown turns the corner and draws a second German defender on this staggered ball screen possession, Smith is left open in the weak-side corner. Brown skips the pass out to him: it’s a tough, slightly off-target delivery. Still, Smith slides left, snags the pass with his left hand and immediately flows into his gather.

On this possession against Germany, Brown misses a shot at the rim. Smith competes for the rebound but can’t secure the initial attempt; however, his effort disrupts a potential defensive board for the Germans. Johnson eventually grabs the long rebound. As Johnson swings the ball to Dybantsa, Smith keeps moving, relocating from the paint to the far wing. Quickly, Dybantsa swings the ball to Smith, who catches a rocket pass with his left hand and gets into his shooting motion before the defender can fully close out.

The spot-up 3-pointers from Smith help unlock his catch-and-go game, where he’s an industrious and creative driver. When defenders rush to close out on Smith, he can put the ball on the deck and get into the seams of the defense.

Team USA runs a 4-5 pick-and-roll against Canada, featuring Tyran Stokes (11) and Johnson. As Stokes attacks the paint, Canada’s weak-side corner defender drops inside, leaving Smith open in the corner. Stokes kicks out to Smith, who has a catch-and-go opportunity. Smith leans right and drives downhill, weaving past the first defender. He then showcases his balance and stride length with a long lunge that splits two more defenders, finishing at the front of the rim for a layup.

From the 2024 Chipotle Nationals against Montverde Academy: Smith makes a couple of impressive plays against the No. 1 prep team in the country, featuring several 2025 First Round NBA Draft picks. As Harris kicks the ball to Smith in the right corner, Liam McNeeley (30) and Derik Queen (25) converge on him, while Cooper Flagg (32) looms as a help defender at the rim. With four defenders packed in the paint, Smith kicks out to Hammond (3) for an open spot-up 3-point attempt. Hammond’s shot misses, but Smith climbs the ladder to snatch the offensive rebound over Flagg, who has a 21.4 percent defensive rebound rate last season at Duke. After the rebound, Harris makes a great effort to relocate across the floor, and Smith finds him in the corner for a 3-pointer.

To help the offense flow and get others involved, Smith is willing to scale back his usage and take on the dirty work — functioning as a de facto fourth or fifth option. Beyond his unselfishness, this is what winning basketball looks like. He’s the kind of player everyone wants on their team: a winner who plays with a keen understanding of what makes a team succeed.