"BRADEN SMITH IS SHORT. Not while he walks around Purdue's campus, of course -- he's listed, perhaps generously, at 6 feet. But as a potential NBA prospect? Purdue's leading point guard is short. He knows it, his opponents know it and NBA scouts know it. He was undersized as an unranked high school recruit whose most likely destination until the Boilermakers extended a scholarship offer was Belmont."
"On the heels of a consensus first-team All-America season, Smith is the national Player of the Year favorite on the No. 2 team looking to win its first national title. He also has the chance to become the NCAA's all-time assists leader, and potentially crack the first round of the 2026 NBA draft. That's a tall order in a league that has averaged 6-7 in height for all but five of the past 46 seasons."
Braden Smith is a listed 6-foot point guard at Purdue who was an unranked high school recruit and nearly signed with Belmont. He earned consensus first-team All-America honors and is a national Player of the Year favorite on Purdue's No. 2 team pursuing a first national title. He has the chance to become the NCAA's all-time assists leader and could potentially be selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft. NBA decision-makers and scouts remain concerned about his size given a league average near 6-7. Kevin Durant questioned the premium for sub-6-2 starters, and the last player under 6 feet taken in the first round was Shane Larkin in 2013.
Read at ESPN.com
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