The Purdue Boilermakers are still dancing after a 79-77 thriller against the Texas Longhorns was decided by a Trey Kaufman-Renn tip-in with 0.7 seconds remaining. Looking to make the Final Four, the Boilermakers are led by senior Braden Smith, who is a projected pick for the NBA after the season. Find out where Smith is projected to go in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Braden Smith’s NBA Draft Stock
Smith is one of the best players in college basketball. The three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection broke Bobby Hurley’s NCAA Division I career assist record, a mark that had stood for nearly 33 years.
Smith broke the record in the first round of March Madness after he racked up his 1,077th assist. He currently has 1,101 assists and will look to add more in the Elite Eight. His playmaking ability makes him an interesting prospect for NBA teams.
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
Smith is the No. 42 overall prospect, according to PFSN’s NBA Mock Draft Simulator. Although he is one of the best players in college, a question remains of how well his game will translate to the NBA.
Expect to see Smith get drafted in the early to middle second round when the 2026 NBA Draft rolls around. He still has chances to improve his stock in the remainder of March Madness and the NBA Draft Combine if he participates.
Braden Smith is a cerebral, ultra-competitive point guard whose greatest strength is running an offense with poise and precision. He controls tempo, keeps his dribble alive, and rarely gets sped up, constantly probing until he finds an advantage.
Smith is a high-level pick-and-roll operator and entry passer who can make a wide variety of reads. He also brings real shooting value, with deep range as a pull-up threat and the ability to come off screens or spot up off the catch. Smith is undersized by NBA standards, but he makes up for it with toughness, wiry strength, and a competitive edge on both ends.
MORE: College Basketball 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker: Complete List of Players Who Are Available
He is a smart team defender who is better off the ball, using positioning and effort to compensate for limited size and athleticism at the point of attack. Refining shot selection, adding versatility as an off-ball guard, and proving he can defend bigger, quicker guards will be crucial.
If those areas develop, Smith has a pathway to stick as a reliable backup point guard with potential to grow into more. Teams can always use a trusted point guard to run a bench unit by taking care of the ball and setting up teammates. Smith will be in demand in the NBA Draft, and as of now, he should hear his name called in the middle of the second round.
