Georgia in for emerging star ATH Jonah Smith: ‘It looks special’

Ten programs are already in the mix for 2026 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) athlete Jonah Smith, with Notre Dame, Michigan, and Miami among the field.

Georgia, too, has already taken notice of the rising sophomore, and while it’s normally a positional coach spotting a guy first, Smith attention from the Dawgs came from a unique member of the staff.

“Coach D-Hill [Player connection coordinator David Hill],” Smith said. “He was connected through somebody I know.”

The conversation was informal for the 5-foot-10, 168-pound do-it-all prospect.

“I got on a call about it,” Smith said. “It was before practice, so it really wasn’t that long.”

But just because it was short doesn’t mean it wasn’t sweet.

It’s an opportunity Smith relished.

“I was super excited,” he said. “That’s a big college and for them to give me a look means a lot.”

While former Mater Dei star JT Daniels played for the Dawgs and standout recruits Nate Frazier and Aydin Breland have made their way east to see the offerings in Athens, it’s still something Smith is looking to check off the list.

“I haven’t visited before,” he said. “I wanna get down there, though.”

Why?

“I think of the winning program and the culture they have,” Smith said. “I see clips and things on social media. It looks special.”

Once he does make his way to Athens, Smith is clear on what he’ll be searching for from a home at the next level.

“What matters to me is the relationship that they build with me and my parents,” he said. “The school part has to be right, and my parents gotta love the program as much as me.”

Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Michigan State, Buffalo are among the other early entrants with offers into the race for Jonah Smith’s services.

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