- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 393,674
- Reaction score
- 43
PROVIDENCE — Matt Painter would be first to admit he didn’t see it working out like this.
Purdue’s head coach heard good things about Braden Smith from folks close to the program and on the wider college basketball scene. The fringe top-200 national recruit from Indiana claimed a handful of scholarship offers from lower majors but he wasn’t necessarily a priority for any Big Ten power.
Fast-forward three years and Smith is arguably the best point guard in the country. He carries the top individual assistant rate, according to KenPom.com, into a Thursday afternoon tip with High Point, a 12:40 p.m. game that will start the NCAA Tournament action at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
“I like watching film but I want to see you in person,” Painter said during his news conference on Wednesday morning. “We couldn’t do it at that point.”
Smith’s career at Westfield High in Indiana was interrupted in stretches by the COVID-19 pandemic. His senior year included the state’s title of Mr. Basketball and a sectional postseason championship. Smith was a three-star prospect and the 33rd point guard in his class, per 247Sports — the updated rankings would look much different ahead of this Midwest Region meeting with the Panthers (29-5).
More: Play the FREE ProJo March Madness survivor pool; win a fabulous prize!
“When you’re surrounded by other great players, it makes the job easier,” Smith said. “I get them the ball and they make the shot.”
Smith assists on 44.4% of field goals made while he’s on the floor. He triggers an offense that sits in the top 10 in national efficiency and 3-point shooting, top 20 in effective field-goal percentage and top 40 in 2-point shooting. The Boilermakers (22-11) are making their 10th consecutive March Madness appearance despite losing National Player of the Year Zach Edey, Lance Jones, Mason Gillis and Ethan Morton.
“When you get the ball in your sweet spots and it’s on time, it allows me to be efficient at what I do,” Purdue guard Trey Kaufman-Renn said. “It allows the team to be efficient at what they do.”
Smith has started all 107 career games with Purdue, including his 2022-23 debut against Milwaukee. He played 30 minutes, scored seven points, collected seven steals and never looked back. Smith didn’t have his first 10-assist outing until the second game of his sophomore year — he’s racked up 12 in 2024-25, including a season-high 15 assists in the opener against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Looking for tickets to the NCAA games in Providence?
“When we win, people say we’re great at developing players,” Painter said. “When we lose, we don’t go in the portal enough.
“It’s kind of like being married, right? Damned if you do; damned if you don’t.”
Smith committed to the Boilermakers less than a week after receiving his offer, disappointing the likes of Belmont, Montana, Toledo, Appalachian State and North Texas. He’s listed as a 6-footer and could add an inch standing on the ever-growing stack of NCAA and program records he’s still setting. Smith is the first Division I player to total at least 1,300 points, 700 assists and 500 rebounds by the close of his junior season, and he was named Big Ten Player of the Year prior to the conference tournament.
“It’s not just me understanding how to handle certain situations there,” Smith said. “[My teammates] understand it as well because they experience it, and we have a great head coach that’s been through everything. He also understands that and can help us.”
Smith does have some pedigree in the game. His mother, Ginny, was Miss Basketball in their native Arkansas in 1997. The family moved to their current home when Smith was 4 and have watched him blossom into a local star. Smith has been named to a pair of All-America teams within the last week and figures to be key if the Boilermakers hope to advance to their eighth Sweet 16 under Painter.
“We’ve stayed by him and stuck with him,” Painter said. “But he’s also stuck with us, and I think it’s a special bond.
“It doesn’t mean things can’t happen and people break off and people go and do different things, but that loyalty is pretty important. It’s pretty important to success.”
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Purdue's Braden Smith, nation's top college point guard, in RI for NCAAs
Continue reading...
Purdue’s head coach heard good things about Braden Smith from folks close to the program and on the wider college basketball scene. The fringe top-200 national recruit from Indiana claimed a handful of scholarship offers from lower majors but he wasn’t necessarily a priority for any Big Ten power.
Fast-forward three years and Smith is arguably the best point guard in the country. He carries the top individual assistant rate, according to KenPom.com, into a Thursday afternoon tip with High Point, a 12:40 p.m. game that will start the NCAA Tournament action at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
“I like watching film but I want to see you in person,” Painter said during his news conference on Wednesday morning. “We couldn’t do it at that point.”
Smith’s career at Westfield High in Indiana was interrupted in stretches by the COVID-19 pandemic. His senior year included the state’s title of Mr. Basketball and a sectional postseason championship. Smith was a three-star prospect and the 33rd point guard in his class, per 247Sports — the updated rankings would look much different ahead of this Midwest Region meeting with the Panthers (29-5).
More: Play the FREE ProJo March Madness survivor pool; win a fabulous prize!
You must be registered for see images attach
“When you’re surrounded by other great players, it makes the job easier,” Smith said. “I get them the ball and they make the shot.”
Smith assists on 44.4% of field goals made while he’s on the floor. He triggers an offense that sits in the top 10 in national efficiency and 3-point shooting, top 20 in effective field-goal percentage and top 40 in 2-point shooting. The Boilermakers (22-11) are making their 10th consecutive March Madness appearance despite losing National Player of the Year Zach Edey, Lance Jones, Mason Gillis and Ethan Morton.
“When you get the ball in your sweet spots and it’s on time, it allows me to be efficient at what I do,” Purdue guard Trey Kaufman-Renn said. “It allows the team to be efficient at what they do.”
Smith has started all 107 career games with Purdue, including his 2022-23 debut against Milwaukee. He played 30 minutes, scored seven points, collected seven steals and never looked back. Smith didn’t have his first 10-assist outing until the second game of his sophomore year — he’s racked up 12 in 2024-25, including a season-high 15 assists in the opener against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Looking for tickets to the NCAA games in Providence?
“When we win, people say we’re great at developing players,” Painter said. “When we lose, we don’t go in the portal enough.
“It’s kind of like being married, right? Damned if you do; damned if you don’t.”
Smith committed to the Boilermakers less than a week after receiving his offer, disappointing the likes of Belmont, Montana, Toledo, Appalachian State and North Texas. He’s listed as a 6-footer and could add an inch standing on the ever-growing stack of NCAA and program records he’s still setting. Smith is the first Division I player to total at least 1,300 points, 700 assists and 500 rebounds by the close of his junior season, and he was named Big Ten Player of the Year prior to the conference tournament.
“It’s not just me understanding how to handle certain situations there,” Smith said. “[My teammates] understand it as well because they experience it, and we have a great head coach that’s been through everything. He also understands that and can help us.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Smith does have some pedigree in the game. His mother, Ginny, was Miss Basketball in their native Arkansas in 1997. The family moved to their current home when Smith was 4 and have watched him blossom into a local star. Smith has been named to a pair of All-America teams within the last week and figures to be key if the Boilermakers hope to advance to their eighth Sweet 16 under Painter.
“We’ve stayed by him and stuck with him,” Painter said. “But he’s also stuck with us, and I think it’s a special bond.
“It doesn’t mean things can’t happen and people break off and people go and do different things, but that loyalty is pretty important. It’s pretty important to success.”
[email protected]
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Purdue's Braden Smith, nation's top college point guard, in RI for NCAAs
Continue reading...
