As a self-proclaimed “die-hard Wizards fan,” Jordan Smith Jr. has attended many games at Capital One Arena in his life. But he’s never had the chance to walk on to the court, let alone play on it.
That changes this weekend, as Smith — who made a name for himself as a top high school player for Paul VI in Chantilly, Virginia — returns to the DMV on Sunday as a member of the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks to take on the No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers in the Capital Showcase.
The 19-year-old D.C. native said he’s excited to play in front of friends and family on the same court once shared by his childhood idols, something he considers a “dream come true.”
“You know, after watching John Wall, Bradley Beal, those guys, I’m just really happy to be able to go home and play on the Wizards’ floor,” Smith said. “Not a lot of people can say they’ve done that, and just for me, I’m a big D.C. guy, big Wizards guy. I’m just excited.”
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Sunday’s contest against Virginia will be Smith’s second-ever college start after a dazzling debut over Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier this week. The 6-foot-2 guard recorded 20 points, four rebounds and two assists in the Razorbacks’ 106-61 win — a performance that helped boost his soaring draft stock.
In a recent ranking of 2027 NBA Draft prospects by ESPN, Smith was listed at No. 4. But the freshman said that none of that hype means much to him.
“It’s good to have that recognition, but there’s always more work to do,” Smith said. “Just don’t let your head fall in love with it. It’s really just a target on your back. Everyone’s coming after you every game.”
Smith said he’ll be sure to give his teammates a proper tour of the District this weekend. Personally, he plans on visiting Ben’s Chili Bowl and his dad’s rec center, where he often played as a kid.
Outside of the homecoming, though, this is a business trip for Smith and the Razorbacks. While his first college start was another “dream come true,” Smith made clear that his mindset has already changed to “kill mode” against the top-10 Cavaliers.
“The exhibition games were kind of, for me, just to get my footing right,” Smith said. “But now, ever since the first game, my mentality has been different. Just kill or be killed, because the season relies on these types of games just to see where we’re at.”
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