Braden Smith Becomes Consensus All-American

What an honor for the point guard.

Braden Smith is one of a kind in the history of Purdue basketball. He was the floor general for the 2023-2024 team that made it all the way to the National Championship game, he is Purdue’s all-time leader in assists after just three seasons in the program, and he is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year. Well, now he can add consensus All-American to the list as the NABC announced their All-American team today and Braden Smith was honored.

If you’ll remember in year’s past we have discussed the requirements for a player to be named a consensus All-American. The Sporting News is one of those outlets. There’s also the AP, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and the United States Basketball Writers Association. A player who is named an All-American by all those outlets can claim to be a consensus All-American.

Braden Smith came to Purdue lightly recruited after Matt Painter reviewed some tape and more or less said, this guy is the best point guard we should get him. He was the 196th ranked recruit and now he’s risen to a consensus All-American. That speaks to Smith’s work ethic, his dedication, and his tenacity as a player. He’s always played with a chip on his shoulder and he loves proving his doubters wrong. Well, from becoming the first Division I basketball player from Westfield to now becoming a consensus All-American I think he’s certainly done that.

There was a great piece on BTN’s The Journey a year or so ago that you can watch below that will really give you some insight into the kind of player and person Braden Smith is. I’d encourage you to re-watch it if you haven’t seen it since the original airing.