After losing top recruit, Duke can still target overseas prospect

DURHAM—Jon Scheyer’s pursuit of perfection in the 2026 cycle hit a speed bump Tuesday when Paul VI Catholic wing Jordan Smith Jr. pledged to Arkansas, ending a months-long courtship that many inside the program believed would land the five-star scorer in Durham. The decision leaves Duke with an open scholarship and a clear directive: look abroad for the final piece of what is already the nation’s consensus No. 1 recruiting class.

Rivals and 247Sports both reaffirmed that status after Smith’s announcement, citing a core four-man group headlined by three five-star talents—power forward Cameron Williams, point guard Deron Rippey Jr. and shooting guard Bryson Howard—plus four-star French center Maxime Meyer. Even without Smith, Duke has retained the top spot every year since 2023, a streak Scheyer hopes to extend by pivoting quickly to the international market.

The name at the top of the board is Sayon Keita, a 7-foot rim-protector competing for FC Barcelona Bàsquet. Limited minutes with the Spanish powerhouse have kept Keita under the radar, but scouts rave about his 7-6 wingspan, fluid hips and timing reminiscent of former Blue Devil Khaman Maluach, now a rookie with the Phoenix Suns. With Patrick Ngongba and projected lottery pick Cameron Boozer ticketed for the 2025 NBA Draft and senior Maliq Brown set to graduate, Duke’s frontcourt depth is thin enough that Keita could be asked to contribute immediately.

Scheyer and assistant coach Chris Carrawell have been tracking Keita since last summer’s FIBA U-18 European Championships, and the staff’s long-standing success with international bigs—from Maluach to Dereck Lively II—figures prominently in the pitch. Keita’s offensive package remains raw, but his defensive instincts and ability to finish above the rim fit the mold of recent Duke centers who have parlayed one season in Durham into first-round draft capital.

The Blue Devils are expected to host Keita for an official visit this fall, though competing offers from Kentucky and a handful of professional clubs in Europe could complicate the timeline. Securing his commitment would give Duke a fifth signee and complete a class that already addresses every perimeter position. Missing on Smith stings, yet the staff’s willingness to scour the globe underscores why the program has stayed atop the recruiting rankings for four consecutive cycles.

Whether Keita ultimately joins the Brotherhood or Duke turns to another overseas target, the message around the program is unchanged: the nation’s pre-eminent recruiting machine keeps moving forward.