Four-star combo guard LJ Smith has scheduled an unofficial visit with Tennessee basketball, 247sports’ Travis Branham first reported Monday and Smith confirmed to RTI. Smith plans on visiting Tennessee on Oct. 11 as part of a run of fall recruiting visits for the blue-chip recruit.
Smith ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 34 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. He also ranks as the No. 3 combo guard in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
The blue-chip recruit has an official visit lined up to Georgia in late September and has scheduled an unofficial visit to North Carolina the week before he visits Tennessee in October.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard is a Lincolnton, North Carolina native just 22 miles south of Rick Barnes’ hometown of Hickory. However, Smith announced earlier this week that he is transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior high school season.
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Tennessee does not hold a commitment in the 2026 or 2027 recruiting cycle but its board is beginning to come into place in 2026. Four-star point guard Miles Sadler is officially visiting Tennessee in early September while five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr and four-star wing Bryson Howard are officially visiting Tennessee the same weekend in October.
Four-star wing Jacob Webber, who was one of the highest risers in the latest Rivals rankings, also has an official visit scheduled to Tennessee for early October.
The Vols also hosted four-star wing Gage Mayfield, four-star shooting guard Junior County and three-star point guard Sam “Deuce” Simmons Jr on visits over the summer. County excluded Tennessee from his top five last month while Simmons was further down Tennessee’s board and committed to Richmond.
