Braden Smith nears Division I assists record and revisits his best passes

Purdue senior point guard Braden Smith entered the NCAA Tournament one assist shy of tying Bobby Hurley's Division I men's assists record and has 1,075 career assists; he reviewed and described several of his favorite passes.

Braden Smith is entering the NCAA Tournament one assist away from tying Duke great Bobby Hurley's Division I men's assists record. He is a senior point guard at Purdue and has 1,075 career assists. In a recent piece he reviewed several of his favorite passes, describing how he developed them and why they stand out to him. The article traces his path from a lightly recruited prospect to a regular starter and primary creator for Purdue. Notable facts: - Smith has 1,075 career assists and entered Purdue's NCAA Tournament first-round game against Queens one assist shy of tying Bobby Hurley's Division I men's assists record. - He is a Purdue senior who became a starter early and adapted his passing to play alongside center Zach Edey, among other teammates. - Smith says he keeps a few favorite plays saved on his phone and practices different passing techniques before games, often working with walk-on Aaron Fine. - The article describes a wide range of passes he uses in games, including behind-the-back feeds, long cross-court bullets, lobs, and high bounce passes. - Smith was ranked 198th in his recruiting class and was not heavily recruited by high-major programs before joining Purdue. Summary: Smith's career assist total has placed him within reach of a longstanding Division I record, reflecting his role as Purdue's primary playmaker. He entered the NCAA Tournament one assist shy of tying the record, and Purdue's first-round game against Queens was the next scheduled appearance.