“I love him; I love him,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said to ESPN. “He’s a Chris Paul, the other coach’s nightmare. He’s got a winning nastiness about him.” Who was he talking about? Of course, it is none other than Purdue guard Braden Smith. The guy with the “Peaky Blinders” beard has been the face of the program since Zach Edey went to the NBA. But will that continue?
This decade has been nothing short of excellent for Purdue. 9 straight big dance appearances as a number 4 seed or better. Consistency at its finest. And at the heart of it all? The big men. Isaac Haas and Matt Haarms dominated the paint. Caleb Swanigan and Trevion Williams brought the muscle. And then came Zach Edey. A 7-foot-4 giant. Two-time National Player of the Year (2023 and ’24).
This year, the story was different. An undersized iron man led the charge for Purdue. It was none other than Braden Smith. The 21-year-old has often been overlooked for his size, but he’s had a season to remember. He joined Purdue’s 1,000-point club, grabbed his 500th career rebound. Became the program’s all-time assist leader. But that’s not all. If he returns for his senior year, Smith will have a chance to make college basketball history!
Mar 24, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) dribbles against the Utah State Aggies during the second half at Gainbridge FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
His 313 assists this season boosted his career total to a solid 758 assists. Even more impressive, he averaged 8.7 assists per game—good enough for second-best in the nation last season. Now, let’s talk history. Duke’s Bobby Hurley set the NCAA Division I all-time assist record with 1,076 back in 1989-93. If Smith comes back for his senior year, he could very well cross that number.
But here’s the big question—what’s next for the junior guard? Does he run it back with Purdue for one last dance? Or is the NBA calling his name? Maybe there’s a twist in the plot. Olivia Miles just shook the landscape by entering the transfer portal. Could the Purdue guard follow suit after that Sweet 16 exit?
Is Braden Smith committing to Kentucky?
Kerr Kriisa made headlines as the first Wildcat to enter the portal. Now, all eyes are on Kentucky’s senior guards—Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson. Will they stay or explore new paths? It’s a question that could shape the Wildcats’ future. Regardless of whether they leave or not, Kentucky will still have to get in a new guard. Perhaps one that can complement Otega Oweh’s offensive skills. And who else is better than Braden Smith himself?
Braden Smith accepts near-record NIL deal to transfer to Kentucky.
byu/GingerJoe11 inCollegeBasketball
According to Reddit page r/collegeBasketball, Braden Smith is all set to accept a record NIL deal to join the Kentucky Wildcats. It’s a win-win move. Smith boosts his NIL earnings, already at a hefty $1.9 million. He gets the spotlight of a blue blood program and a shot at a championship to cap off his college career. The Wildcats get a star playmaker. Smith gets a stage. It just fits. But how true is the news?
How true is the news?
Tough break, Kentucky fans—it’s not legit. Turns out, r/collegeBasketball was just having some April Fool’s fun. “When asked for comment, Braden Smith simply said, ‘April Fools’”. Reported the page. Classic. It was all just lighthearted humor from the hoops community. Nothing to see here—just a good laugh!
April Fool’s joke or not, the Braden Smith saga might not be over. A trip to the portal can’t be ruled out just yet. Purdue’s got a serious challenge on their hands if they want to keep their star guard. What’s next for Braden Smith? Only time will tell. Stay tuned as this story’s far from over!
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