Big Ten Player of Year adds national award to Purdue basketball mantel

[ASFN Admin]

The nation's top point guard in men's college basketball resides in West Lafayette.

Purdue basketball's Braden Smith concluded his junior season averaging 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

For that, Smith was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year.

Now Smith has another award for his mantel.

On Saturday, he was named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the top point guard in men's college basketball.

More: 7 stats by Purdue basketball's Braden Smith that sound made up -- but aren't

Smith won the award ahead of a field that included Marquette's Kam Jones, Florida's Walter Clayton Jr., Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler and Alabama's Mark Sears.

Smith is the first winner of the Cousy Award from Purdue and the first recipient from the Big Ten since Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu in 2021, who also was the last non senior to receive the honor.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue's Braden Smith wins Bob Cousy Award as nation's top PG

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