Purdue continues incredible run with 4 straight years with 1st/2nd team All-American

Braden Smith, a point guard from Purdue and the best guard in the country, has officially etched his name in the history books and has been named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. Braden averaged 16.4 PPG, a whopping 9.5 APG, and 2.6 SPG (A fantastic defender as well).

With his inclusion, it’s now FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS  that Purdue has had a player on the First or Second Team AP-All American Teams (Jaden Ivey, 2022 2nd team; Zach Edey, 2023 1st team; Zach Edey, 2024 First team; Braden Smith, 2025 First Team). Also, Trey Kaufman-Renn was named an Honorable Mention All-American, and chances are he could be a National Player of the Year Candidate next year as well. 

Braden has turned into a force to be reckoned with for anyone that faces Purdue. As a big Purdue fan, I have so enjoyed watching him play these three years, and I love the way he commands the floor. Smith already has the Purdue record for career assists, with another season left to go (And hopefully a lot more games left this year). Watching Smith play is like watching a masterclass in playing the PG position. He’s an artist with the ball in his hands, and I’m so glad I’ve got to see him play at Purdue and bring so much joy to Mackey Arena and beyond.

Trey Kaufman-Renn has become a scoring machine, as one of the best scorers in the country, and witnessing him on the bock is like basketball poetry. He could teach a clinic on playing as a PF/Center. Zach Edey was so spectacular, one of the greatest, most dominant college basketball players ever, and to have a PG like Braden Smith playing with him, and now continuing his play after Zach graduated, is a testament to how fantastic both players are. 

Purdue is a fantastic program with a fantastic culture, and a fantastic coach in Matt Painter. Seeing fantastic players like the Magnificient, post-move boss in Trey Kaufman-Renn, the dominant, amazing Zach Edey, the incredibly acrobatic and entertaining Jaden Ivey, and the PG savant Braden Smith has been an absolute joy, and I am so glad that I have got to see these players play for the team and the school that I love.