By: Ross Van De Griek
Jaleel Smith, A 6-foot-1 rising junior point guard, confirmed with Southeast Hoops Report that he will be transferring from Hunter Huss (North Carolina) to Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) for the remainder of his high school career.
Smith led the Huskies to the 2026 North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Class 5A Championship, where he averaged 30.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 4.9 steals per game during his sophomore season. He shot 53% from the field, 32% from behind the three-point line, and 74% from the free throw line in 28 games played for the Huskies, where they finished with a 26-2 record.
During his freshman season, Smith averaged 22.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 4.0 steals per game while shooting 51% from the field, 30% from behind the arc, and 71% from the free-throw line.
Smith is also having a strong start on the recruitment trail, where he has picked up a handful of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) offers. The three-star point guard has received offers from Florida State, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest.
In a January matchup against Crest High School, Smith set the school record for most points in a single game (59) in a 77-74 win. He would also follow up with another superb scoring outing where he scored 41 points in the Class 5A Championship game in a 103-69 convincing win over Fike High School.
With Smith on his way to Oak Hill Academy, he could replace his cousin in Ohio State five-star shooting guard LJ Smith, who announced on Monday that he will be reclassifying into the 2026 class and enrolling with the Buckeyes this upcoming season.
Smith is capable of running the offense as the primary creator and demonstrates a strong understanding of how to balance playmaking with three-level scoring. He’s a crafty ball-handler and smart decision-maker who can typically get whatever he wants on the court. Smith utilizes his body well as a finisher, defender, and rebounder. He pushes transition play and runs an efficient half-court offense. Right now, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where he doesn’t remain one of the top players in his class. He has embraced early on being the go-to option and leader for his team, showing himself to be a strong offensive playmaker. He displayed an extremely polished feel in being a creator for himself, attacking the defense well, getting to his spots with his jumper, making high-IQ reads in scoring around defenders, and displaying confidence in having the ball in his hands and making a play. Smith brings a physical game to the court that allows him to embrace defenders and make plays, as well as be able to defend as well as being a solid rim protector for his size. Expect more coaches to start showing interest in the 6-foot-1 rising junior guard.
Last Grassroots season, Smith played with Team United on the Nike EYBL Circuit, where he averaged 10.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.4 steals per game while playing with the 16U age division.
Ross Van De Griek has been a Southeast Region Scout for On The Radar Hoops since 2024 and has been the Owner/Founder of Southeast Hoops Report since June 2026. You can follow along with his work on X (@SEHoopsReport), Instagram (sehoopsreport), and Facebook (@sehoopsreport).