Last Updated 2 weeks by Amnon J. Jobi | Amnon Front Page
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WISH) — The Purdue Boilermakers might not be playing in this weekend’s Final Four, but that isn’t stopping them from still bringing in one of the nation’s top awards.
Boilers junior Braden Smith was named the 2025 Bob Cousy Award winner, which goes to the best point guard in college basketball. Smith beat out Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler, Alabam’s Mark Sears and Marquette’s Kam Jones as this year’s recipient.
The Westfield native’s the first to win the Cousy Award in Purdue program history.
“I am honored to be the recipient of the Bob Cousy Award and would like to thank the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Mr. Cousy for this award,” Smith said in a press release. “I would also like to shout out my teammates, coaches and support staff for their trust and confidence in me this season. To be included among the elite players that have won this award is very humbling and I am grateful to be selected to join that prestigious group.”
Bob Cousy himself sent Smith a congratulatory message on social media.
“I’ve seen you play three times, and you’re a wonderful player,” Cousy said. “You have three years left, and I offer my congratulations before obviously a successful pro career. So, job well done!”
Smith adds this award to an already extensive trophy case. He was named a consensus first-team All American, as well as the Big Ten’s Player of the Year last month, making it three straight seasons a player at Purdue has won the conference’s highest individual honor.
Smith’s junior season in West Lafayette was by far his best. When the Boilers’ season ended in the Sweet 16 against Houston, Smith walked into the offseason averaging 15.8 points a game and 8.7 assists a game.
With this award, Smith now joins Zach Edey and Carsen Edwards who have won the highest positional award while with Purdue. Edey won the Abdul-Jabbar Award in 2023 and 2024, while Edwards was named the West Award winner in 2018. Purdue’s four total positional award recipients rank second behind only Villanova’s five.
Smith is still one of four finalists for both the Naismith and Wooden awards.