WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue senior point guard Braden Smith has been named a second-team All-American by The Sporting News, the organization announced today.
The Sporting News is one of four organizations recognized for consensus All-American honors (Associated Press, NABC, USBWA), thus making Smith officially an All-American for the 2025-26 season.
Smith is joined on the second team by Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Texas Tech’s J.T. Toppin. The first team consisted of Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Iowa’s State’s Joshua Jefferson.
Smith becomes the eighth player in the modern era to be named All-American twice, joining Zach Edey (2023, 2024), Carsen Edwards (2018, 2019), Glenn Robinson (1993, 1994), Joe Barry Carroll (1979, 1980), Rick Mount (1968, 1969, 1970), Dave Schellhase (1965, 1966) and Terry Dischinger (1960, 1961, 1962).
Purdue has now had an All-American in five straight seasons, the longest active streak in the country.
Yesterday, Smith became the fifth Purdue player in modern history (since 1948) to be named first-team All-Big Ten three times, joining Robbie Hummel, Rick Mount, Dave Schellhase and Terry Dischinger on the list. He was the first Big Ten player to be named first-team All-Big Ten three times since Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ (2017-19).
Smith is having a sensational senior season, averaging 14.9 points, 8.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from 3-point range and 82.3 percent from the free throw line. In conference play only, Smith averaged 16.5 points, 8.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals while shooting 48.0 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from deep and 88.3 percent from the free throw line.
He has scored at least 10 points, 25 different times this season and has surpassed 20 points nine times. He has recorded double-doubles in eight games this season and has 13 games of at least 10 assists.
Smith is the only player in the country to have at least 450 points, 250 assists and 100 rebounds this season and is the first player in NCAA history to have at least three seasons of 450 points, 250 assists and 100 rebounds.
The 450-250-100 splits have been accomplished just eight times in Big Ten history. Smith has accounted for three of them.
Smith is one of the most-decorated point guards in NCAA history, being named a first-team All-American and Cousy Award winner during the 2024-25 season. For his career, he is the only player in NCAA history to have at least 1,800 points and 1,000 career assists and when you add in his 648 rebounds, Smith is still the only player in NCAA history with even 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 rebounds.
He is the Big Ten’s all-time leader in assists (1,029) and needs 48 assists to become the NCAA all-time leader in career assists.
Purdue will open play in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday evening against the winner of Indiana vs. Northwestern.