Purdue’s Braden Smith unanimous AP preseason All-American

Braden Smith performed with Zach Edey within the 2024 nationwide championship recreation and adopted his massive footsteps by turning into an All-American final season.

The Purdue guard had an opportunity to depart for the NBA over the summer time, however, like Edey earlier than him, determined to return for one more likelihood at a nationwide championship underneath coach Matt Painter.

Smith’s determination earned him one other similarity to Edey: unanimous preseason All-American.

Smith earned all 57 votes from a media panel in The Associated Press preseason All-America group launched on Monday, per week after the Boilermakers had been voted preseason No. 1 within the AP Top 25 for the primary time. He was joined on a big-man-heavy first group by Texas Tech’s JT Toppin (52 votes), Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg (30), BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa (22) and Florida ahead Alex Condon (16).

“That’s just how Purdue has always been, how every player has always been,” Smith stated. “Paint recruits players, recruits the same people, and that’s how they think, how we think. We always want to be a part of a program like this, a culture like this.”

Smith has been one of many nation’s best guards since his freshman season at Purdue in 2022-23. The heady 6-foot guard performed a key position on the Boilermakers’ first run to the nationwide title recreation in 2024, averaging 12 factors, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per recreation whereas setting a college file for minutes.

Smith was even higher as a junior final season, turning into the primary participant in NCAA historical past to have a minimum of 550 factors, 300 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals in a season. Smith averaged 15.8 factors, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and a pair of.2 steals per recreation on a group that reached the Sweet 16.

Toppin’s affect

Toppin had an excellent first season at Texas Tech after transferring from New Mexico.

The 6-foot-9 ahead averaged 18.2 factors, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks whereas main the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight, the place they misplaced to eventual nationwide champion Florida. Toppin was a second-team AP All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year earlier than opting to return to a group ranked No. 10 within the AP preseason ballot.

Landing Lendeborg

Lendeborg had a profitable stint at UAB, serving to lead the Blazers to the 2024 NCAA event. After testing the NBA waters, the 6-9 ahead determined he wished an opportunity to achieve the Final Four, so he stayed in faculty and transferred to Michigan.

The addition of Lendeborg helped the Wolverines earn a No. 7 rating within the preseason ballot after reaching the Sweet 16 a yr in the past.

Last season, Lendeborg joined Indiana State’s Larry Bird as the one gamers to have 600 factors, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a season. He averaged 15.8 factors and 11 rebounds per recreation in two seasons at UAB, incomes American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors each years.

AJ arrives

BYU took a giant step in its first season underneath coach Kevin Young final season by reaching the Sweet 16.

The No. 8 Cougars have even greater expectations this season after touchdown Dybantsa.

The nation’s No. 1 recruit had almost each main program jockeying for his companies however selected to play in Provo. The athletic 6-9 ahead is an environment friendly scorer who finishes robust on the rim, has a great midrange recreation and is an excellent defender — attributes which have him projected as a possible No. 1 NBA draft choose.

Condon returns

Condon introduced he was heading to the NBA draft after Florida’s nationwide championship final season earlier than altering his thoughts.

The 6-11 Australian averaged 10.6 factors and seven.5 rebounds per recreation whereas main Gators with 49 blocked photographs. Condon was very good within the nationwide title recreation towards Houston, ending with 12 factors, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, diving for a unfastened ball within the closing seconds of the 65-63 win.

Condon returned for an opportunity to guide the Gators to consecutive nationwide titles and helped them earn a No. 3 rating within the AP preseason ballot.