Jeff BorzelloApr 14, 2025, 05:29 PM ET
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- Basketball recruiting insider.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of College of Delaware.
Purdue megastar guard Braden Smith is returning for his senior season, he introduced Monday, doubtlessly cementing his place because the preseason Picket Award favourite.
“Operating it again one ultimate time,” Smith stated in his announcement on Instagram. “Purdue has given me the whole thing: Reminiscences, demanding situations, enlargement, and a circle of relatives. There may be nonetheless extra to turn out, extra to perform, and extra moments to create with my brothers.
“A lot like to my guys and Boiler Country! Let’s make this subsequent yr unforgettable!”
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Smith used to be a consensus first-team All-American this season, averaging 15.8 issues, 4.5 rebounds, 8.7 assists (2d within the nation) and a couple of.2 steals en path to successful the Bob Cousy Award because the country’s absolute best level guard.
He used to be pressured to shoulder a larger percentage of the offensive duty after two-time Picket Award winner Zach Edey went to the NBA, and Smith more and more was one of the crucial focal issues of the offense because the season advanced.
He scored 20 or extra issues in 9 Large Ten video games, together with 31 issues towards Iowa and 24 issues in back-to-back video games towards Michigan and Indiana. He additionally tallied double-digit assists in 13 video games, headlined through 15 assists within the NCAA event loss to Houston. He performed all 40 mins in each and every of the Boilermakers’ 3 event video games.
Smith is more likely to open the season because the preseason favourite for the Picket Award, giving Matt Painter’s program a valid probability to win the award 3 times in 4 seasons.
Purdue is No. 2 in ESPN’s Approach-Too-Early Most sensible 25.
