Class of 2027 guard LJ Smith announced a scholarship offer from Indiana on Sunday afternoon.
It appears IU assistant Kenny Johnson is leading the charge here. Smith thanked Johnson in his announcement of the offer on X.
Based on the average of the national recruiting rankings, Smith is a 4-star, the No. 49 player in the 2027 class, and the No. 2 combo guard. Two outlets — 247Sports and ESPN — have Smith as a top-30 player in the class. He appears to be trending favorably.
Smith played his first two years of high school at Lincolnton H.S. in Lincolnton, N.C. As a high school sophomore he averaged 33.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.6 steals per game. He scored at least 40 points in seven games as Lincolnton went 24-6.
In 2024-25, the 6-foot-4 Smith broke the NCHSAA sophomore single-season scoring record.
For travel basketball Smith plays for Team Thad on the Nike EYBL Circuit. He is playing up a year with the 17u team and averaging 13.8 points while shooting 44.4% from three on 54 attempts.
Smith is a fluid athlete and a skilled guard who can score the ball at an elite level. He’s a very good shooter and has a solid frame for his age. That latter point should allow Smith to be a force in the paint on offense, and a top-end defender.
Smith is already one of the most coveted guards in his class. He also has offers from North Carolina, Cincinnati, Clemson, Georgia, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and West Virginia.
For a complete look at Indiana’s 2026 through 2028 offers and prospects, GO HERE.
For complete coverage of IU basketball recruiting, GO HERE.
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