Get to know this guy. He could be our next pg

[JonathanW]

And shifty is what is most important for a ball handler. It's why Sears is so hard to contain and a key reason he's an All-American/All-Conference candidate.

Yes. Regardless, he is not more athletic than the average PG, yet he has developed skills that makes him better! Showing that he (or other shorter guards like him) can finish around the rim without having Ja Morant's vertical or Andrew Harrison's height.

 

[SkyPrince1]

$$$ would probably be why

Hey, I hope we can get better, I’d love the best 10 players in the country on our team next year. But not happening. I think B.Smith would be one of the top 3 PG in the portal if he enters it. Can’t complain about top 3 at any position.

Money was the only reason I could think of also but then I seen where he has a NIL valuation of 1.9 mil (per On 3)making him top 10 in CBB this season.

 

[JonathanW]

He’s way out of Wheelers league.

Wheeler could have been good, IF HE COULD SHOOT. But he couldn't. So teams didn't guard him until he got inside 15'.
Oh yeah, being a QUITTER was also a big flaw of his.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Reading so many people talking shit about Braden Smith in this thread and another one is flat embarrassing. Wth is wrong with some of you people? It’s obvious you have no damn clue what you’re talking about. He’s the Big Ten player of the year and been a first team conference player two years in a row….and some of y’all acting like he can’t play. SMH

Only a fool would pass on this guy GREAT player, winner!

 

[SkyPrince1]

People wouldn’t be excited about getting this dude? Hes the only reason Purdue was relevant this year.

People would be excited but so far there's no reason to be

 

[bnewt]

Shifty but not quick. Not a big vertical. Was thick enough to absorb contact.

However you describe him, he is a very good college player

 

[Digger-Cat]

People wouldn’t be excited about getting this dude? Hes the only reason Purdue was relevant this year.

Not true, Kaufman-Renn is a massive reason for their success this year. He averages 20ppg and 6rpg.
Fletcher Loyer is also another reason why they are a decent team.
Honestly, I don't think they're all that good away from home.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Anyone else think this is a really odd time for a deal like this to go down? I mean, Purdue is about to start playing NCAA Tournament games, something like this would crush team chemistry

 

[SkyPrince1]

Anyone else think this is a really odd time for a deal like this to go down? I mean, Purdue is about to start playing NCAA Tournament games, something like this would crush team chemistry

Probably no deal ever existed.
Just a figment of some guy on Twitter's imagination.
If Smith, TKR and Loyer all return they'll have a nice squad.

 

[bucsrule8872]

How about this scenario:

Smith (Purdue) replaces Butler.
Saunders (BYU) replaces Robinson.
Elim (F$U) replaces Williams.
Stillwell (Milwaukee) replaces Carr.
MaGee (Drexel) replaces Brea.
Green (Holy Cross) replaces Almonor.

I put Saunders in there because he almost came with Pope last year and they are very close. I would love to see him come on board with these other guys that have been mentioned.

Just wanted to see what people would think of that scenario.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Mark Sears is 6’1

Zz at ut ia short and conssidered an outstanding defensive player

 

[Cats192]

Mark Sears is a special player, Braden can't do what Sears does. They are completely different players.

Braden has 17 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists against that special player in Mark Sears when they played Alabama this year.

He had 18 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists vs Ole Miss.

His one bad game was against Auburn--and even that was 8 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists

In 3 games vs tournament teams from the SEC, he averaged 14 points, 4.7 rebounds, 9 assists.

Why exactly do we not think he can play vs the SEC?

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

Per guys that follow Purdue the rumor is Bama has been in on him since before Xmas.

 

[true blue1]

Jmo, I think Johnson and Lewis will be our starting back court next year.

 

[catsfanbgky]

Think about this for a second. In Pope's offense, your pg is the center and your actual pg needs to cut to the basket and finish. A 6' guard is going to get stuffed over and over trying to do that in this league.

A short pg puts you at a huge disadvantage

Just in the SEC alone, 5-9 Zakai Zeigler, 5-11 Josh Hubbard, 6-1 Mark Sears, 6-1 Aden Holloway, and 6-1 Jason Edwards thinks you do not know what you are talking about. There is 5 PG's who do just fine in the SEC.

 

[JimBR]

Smith is first team all american. Can't imagine anyone not wanting him.

 

[JFCats22]

First team AA and some on here act like we could do better than landing Smith

 

[twwilliams9]

If Pope wants him, it tells me he wasn't paying attention. Braden Smith would get owned in this conference.

After going through this conference season, the very first thing you learn is you need length, size, athletesism and great shooting, Braden is missing most of those traits.

Don't believe everything you read.

Braden Smith = not Ziegler and not Mark Sears.

Do you guys actually think Braden Smith is in their league?

Braden and Ziegler are system guys. They were developed for years in their current programs, if you put them on a different team, they will not be the same players you see them as now.

@Digger-Cat update!!!! 😂😂😂

 

[Digger-Cat]

@Digger-Cat update!!!! 😂😂😂

I literally walked it back and said I would be a fan and support him if he came to UK, let it go. I just prefer longer, thicker guards.

 

[Fox2monk]

Smith is first team all american. Can't imagine anyone not wanting him.

Exactly you go huge if he enters the portal.

 

[L.O.D.]

If we wanted him we should just keep Kerr. Meh. Need an athletic pg that can get to rim and defend. I know he had a good year just rather get someone else.

 

[JonathanW]

Jmo, I think Johnson and Lewis will be our starting back court next year.

1 FR, maybe. 2 FR, no.

 

[JonathanW]

@Digger-Cat update!!!! 😂😂😂

Damn, 3 of the 5 from SEC!
And all 3 of those started out at mid-majors!

 

[Bluesnky]

If we wanted him we should just keep Kerr. Meh. Need an athletic pg that can get to rim and defend. I know he had a good year just rather get someone else.

But that makes no sense because Kerr stinks and this guy is an All American.

 

[ccukuk]

Sigh

You'll learn. Glad you're not the head coach at UK.

Seems you feel your basketball knowledge and coaching skills do put you on par with UK’s basketball coach. You must be an absolute insufferable bore. You will probably never learn.

 

[Coach Marrow]

How much NIL would it take for a 1st team all-American transfer?

 

[G-PIP]

How much NIL would it take for a 1st team all-American transfer?

Scared to ask. Feels like it's the Wild Wild West out there right now.

 

[Butters' Dad]

How much NIL would it take for a 1st team all-American transfer?

You won't get any kind of definite answer to this. The question is who will give him the most.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Seems you feel your basketball knowledge and coaching skills do put you on par with UK’s basketball coach. You must be an absolute insufferable bore. You will probably never learn.

With a name like yours, I'll just let you watch to see what happens.

 

[Cats192]

I literally walked it back and said I would be a fan and support him if he came to UK, let it go. I just prefer longer, thicker guards.

This guy likes ‘em long and thick.

 

[CatFanInIlliniLand]

You are nuts if you think he couldn’t play in the SEC

 

[L.O.D.]

How much NIL would it take for a 1st team all-American transfer?

Too.muxh yo be worth it. He's high IQ n a very good gaurd. He's not fast He's not athletic He's not a great defender . I want a better version of Butler not a better version of Kerr.

 

[Digger-Cat]

This guy likes ‘em long and thick.

If that makes me gay, I don't want to be straight.

 

[Cuello Azul]

Too.muxh yo be worth it. He's high IQ n a very good gaurd. He's not fast He's not athletic He's not a great defender . I want a better version of Butler not a better version of Kerr.

Yet, somehow a 1st team All-American.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Braden Smith grew up an hour from West Lafayette. I think he's on track to be the all-time assist leader in Big10 history, maybe. Why would anyone think he's going to leave his hometown team? That's like Darius Miller leaving Kentucky before his senior year.

 

[SkyPrince1]

According to On 3 he was one of the 10 highest paid college players last season.
Maybe he's shooting for #1.

 

[Creed Bratton]

If you ain't first your last!!