"Smith earned all 57 votes from a media panel in The Associated Press preseason All-America team released on Monday, a week after the Boilermakers were voted preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time. He was joined on a big man-heavy first team by Texas Tech's JT Toppin (52 votes), Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (30), BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa (22) and Florida forward Alex Condon (16)."
""That's just how Purdue has always been, how every player has always been," Smith said. "Paint recruits players recruits the same people and that's how they think, how we think. We always want to be a part of a program like this, a culture like this.""
"Smith was even better as a junior last season, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have at least 550 points, 300 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals in a season. Smith averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game on a team that reached the Sweet 16."
Braden Smith returned to Purdue instead of entering the NBA and rejoined Zach Edey in pursuit of another national championship under coach Matt Painter. Smith earned all 57 votes on the Associated Press preseason All-America team and Purdue was voted preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25. Smith has been one of the nation's most productive guards since 2022-23, playing a key role in the 2024 title-game run and posting a historic junior season with at least 550 points, 300 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals while averaging 15.8 points and 8.7 assists.
Read at ESPN.com
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