Incoming Arkansas freshman Jordan Smith Jr. projected early pick on ESPN’s mock 2027 NBA Draft
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Darius Acuff Jr. was a stud for Arkansas in 2025-26, with his successful freshman season in Fayetteville leading to him being taken seventh overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Jordan Smith Jr. could be the next one-and-done Razorback, if the initial mock from ESPN’s Jeremy Woo for the 2027 draft is correct. The Northern Virginia product, considered the No. 3 overall player in the 2027 class, is already being monitored by NBA front offices. Woo has him going No. 2, a pick currently held by the Chicago Bulls.
“Smith is an explosive, high-energy guard who can get downhill in a hurry and excels at disrupting plays on the defensive end. He appears ticketed for plenty of point guard minutes at Arkansas, and how he handles that responsibility will determine whether he can make a real No. 1 case,” Woo said.
There are some drawbacks, though.
“He’s an inconsistent 3-point shooter and has a smaller frame that will play up best on the ball, despite being more of a natural scorer than a setup man,” Woo added.
Calipari, of course, is no stranger to one-and-done players after seeing several recruits pass through Kentucky for a season before heading to the NBA. (One of them, Karl-Anthony Towns, just won a championship with the New York Knicks.) Whether or not Smith ends up being one hinges on quickly he gets up to speed in the college game, but by all accounts, it shouldn’t take long.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
