Purdue guard Braden Smith announced his return for his senior season, positioning himself as a preseason contender for the Wooden Award. He expressed gratitude for his time at Purdue and a desire to prove more with his teammates. Smith achieved significant success last season, being named a consensus first-team All-American and winning the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard, averaging impressive stats including 15.8 points and 8.7 assists per game. His return strengthens Purdue's chances for future championships as they maintain a strong ranking in the upcoming season.
"Running it back one last time," Smith said in his announcement on Instagram. "Purdue has given me everything: Memories, challenges, growth, and a family. There's still more to prove, more to accomplish, and more moments to create with my brothers."
Smith was a consensus first-team All-American this season, averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 2.2 steals en route to winning the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's best point guard.
He scored 20 or more points in nine Big Ten games, including 31 points against Iowa and 24 points in back-to-back games against Michigan and Indiana.
Smith is likely to open the season as the preseason favorite for the Wooden Award, giving Matt Painter's program a legitimate chance to win the award three times in four seasons.
Collection
[
|
...
]