During the previous season, Smith was a consensus first-team All-American, averaging 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game, and winning the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard.

Purdue has become a prominent program in college basketball, achieving significant accomplishments including a run to the national championship game in 2024 and multiple Big Ten titles in the past three years.

Braden Smith, a standout guard for Purdue, announced his return for the 2025-26 season on April 14, 2025, joining fellow All-American Zach Edey in forgoing professional opportunities.

With Smith's return, Purdue is positioned as the No. 2 team in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the upcoming season, potentially making them favorites for the Wooden Award, which they could win three times in four seasons under coach Matt Painter.

Expectations for Purdue are high for the upcoming season, with the potential for multiple preseason All-Americans and a ranking among the top teams in the nation.

After the departure of two-time Wooden Award winner Zach Edey to the NBA, Smith took on a larger offensive role, becoming a key player for the team as the season progressed.

He played a crucial role in leading Purdue to the NCAA tournament, where the team reached the Sweet 16, notably playing all 40 minutes in their close loss to Houston.

Smith's announcement has been confirmed by the Purdue basketball team on their official social media channels.

In his announcement, Smith expressed gratitude for his time at Purdue, highlighting the memories, challenges, and growth he experienced, and emphasized his desire to create more memorable moments with his teammates.

Purdue's recruitment strategy emphasizes finding players with the right traits over simply high-ranked recruits, allowing the program to select players who fit well into their system.

Despite his success in college, there are uncertainties about Smith's potential NBA prospects, as he was not projected to be drafted according to recent mock drafts, indicating concerns about his NBA readiness.

Braden Smith will help form a strong foundation for Purdue in 2025-26, potentially alongside Trey Kaufman-Renn, who had an impressive 2024-25 season.