High-Scoring Star LJ Smith Transfers to Oak Hill Academy for Junior Year

High-Scoring Star LJ Smith Transfers to Oak Hill Academy for Junior Year

LJ Smith, a rising junior guard hailing from Lincolnton, North Carolina, has made waves in the basketball community with his recent announcement to transfer to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for the 2025-2026 season. This decision, shared on social media, follows an impressive layout of achievements during his sophomore year at Lincolnton, where he not only shined on the court but also set a single-season record for the most points scored in North Carolina, netting an astonishing 960 points in just 29 games.

Standing tall at 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 180 pounds, Smith’s game is as dynamic as his scoring record suggests, averaging an impressive 33.1 points per game. This remarkable feat places him fourth in the history of North Carolina high school basketball for points scored in a single season. During the Grassroots season playing for Team Thad on the Nike EYBL Circuit, he maintained a solid performance, averaging 14.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, complemented by a notable 42% shooting rate from three-point range. The strength of his game has led him to be ranked as the No. 34 overall player, No. 3 combo guard, and the top player in Virginia for the Class of 2027, according to 247Sports.

Transfer to Oak Hill Academy

Smith will join an Oak Hill Academy roster that includes promising talent such as three-star senior point guard Donovan Williams Jr., four-star small forward Ethan Mgbako, and senior power forward Jean Victor Ndiaye. This move comes at a critical time for both Smith and Oak Hill, who wrapped up the 2024-2025 season with a 23-11 record and a mixed bag of performances in the 1st Annual Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference, finishing with a 4-7 record. In such a competitive environment, Smith looks set to further elevate his game while contributing to the Warriors‘ efforts to increase their success on the national stage.

Smith’s transfer has not gone unnoticed in the recruitment sphere. Having received offers from nearly two dozen schools including formidable programs like Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia, it’s evident that his outstanding performance has caught the eye of college coaches far and wide. Notably, the University of North Carolina extended an official offer to Smith on June 26, 2025, following keen interest from coaches Hubert Davis and Jeff Lebo. This offer highlights Smith’s status as a highly regarded 4-star combo guard, with some coaches even classifying him as a 5-star shooting guard.

What’s Next for LJ Smith?

As Smith transitions to Oak Hill Academy, the expectations are high. With such a strong performance record and the backing of a supportive coaching and education environment, he is poised to make his mark during the upcoming season. The basketball community will eagerly watch how he adapts to this new chapter while further honing his skills and preparing for the next level of competition. The stage is set for a season full of promise and excitement, both for Smith and the Oak Hill Warriors.