Posted By: Richie Hall October 10, 2025
By JOSH BODE
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Purdue senior guard and Westfield graduate Braden Smith was named Big Ten preseason Player of the Year.
Smith is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year. He was also the only unanimous selection to the preseason All-Big Ten team.
This is the third straight year that a Purdue player has been named preseason Player of the Year, with Smith receiving the honor the past two seasons and Zach Edey receiving the honor in 2024.
Smith is joined by his teammate, Trey Kaufman-Renn, on the preseason All-Big Ten Team. Bennett Stirtz (Iowa), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Nick Martinelli (Northwestern), Nate Bittle (Oregon), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon), Donovan Dent (UCLA) and John Blackwell (Wisconsin) were also named to the preseason All-Big Ten team.
Smith averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game last season. He was a first team All-American and won the Bob Cousy Award as the top point guard in college basketball.
Kaufman-Renn averaged 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season.
Purdue opens the season with Evansville on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Mackey Arena.
This story originally appeared on WISH-TV at wishtv.com/sports/braden-smith-preseason-big-ten-player-of-the-year/
