ginny smith

Christian, wife, mom, educator, girls basketball coach

[Boiler Burner @BoilerBurner1]

Depending on how you view Carl Landry, Braden Smith will become either the 10th or 11th Purdue player drafted during the Matt Painter era over the next two days. He will join this list:

(2024) Zach Edey: Rd. 1, pick 9.
(2022) Jaden Ivey: Rd. 1, pick 5.
(2019) Carsen Edwards: Rd. 2, pick 33.
(2018) Vince Edwards: Rd. 2, pick 52.
(2017) Caleb Swanigan: Rd. 1, pick 26.
(2016) AJ Hammons: Rd. 2, pick 46.
(2012) Robbie Hummel: Rd. 2, pick 58.
(2011) JaJuan Johnson: Rd. 1, pick 27.
(2011) E’Twaun Moore: Rd. 2, pick 55.
(2007) Carl Landry: Rd 2, pick 31.

If I had to pick a spot above for Smith to be closest to, I’d pick Carsen at 33. If Memphis keeps its pick at 32 I could see him going there if a team doesn’t trade up. If the Grizzlies selected Boozer at 3 and Smith at 32, that would be an A+ in everyone’s book except Krysten Peek.

I’d personally be surprised if Smith doesn’t end up on the Pacers, Spurs, Grizzlies or Nuggets, probably in that order. I was able to meet Braden before he left for the combine and I asked him what team’s style he thinks would fit him best and he said he’d love to play in Denver.

A darkhorse team, IMO, could be the Knicks, if they don’t pick up Jose Alvarado’s player option. Any of those 5 organizations would make sense.

Trae Young (6’3)
TJ McConnell (6’2)
Fred VanFleet (6’2)
Kyle Lowry (6’2)
Jose Alvarado (6’1)
Yuki Kawamura (5’11)

This is a list of current NBA guards with a shorter wingspan than Braden Smith’s 6’3.25” with their respective heights in parentheses. Steph Curry’s wingspan is 6’3.5”.

The average vertical jump in the history of the NBA combine, amongst guards, is 37.5”. Braden Smith’s vertical is 38.5”. Tough look for the crowd who pairs the word “athleticism” strictly with dunking.

I’m not comparing him to any of the players above, I’m simply showing that 6’0 guards can work in the NBA (I don’t wanna hear the 5’10 irrelevant shit, games aren’t played barefoot, sorry. Chris Paul was 5’11 barefoot - how’d that work out?).

Smith becomes the NBA’s best passer the minute he’s drafted. That, along with his bball IQ and character, should outweigh his height. If Smith was 6’5 he would go in the lottery tomorrow night, yet his game wouldn’t be different at all from what we saw at Purdue. Whoever takes him is getting a pass-first PG and a basketball savant who doesn’t care about anything other than winning. He would rather dish out 25 assists than score 50 points. And that’s valuable to a team that is able to surround him with many weapons.

On top of that, no one is going to be more competitive than him. There’s a huge chip on Smith’s shoulder, just like there was when he was coming out of Westfield. Nearly every big game in his collegiate career, Smith rose to the occasion.

He was Dusty May’s last L in college and beat a team with three players set to be drafted in the top-16 for the Big Ten title with 14 points, 11 assists and 0 turnovers.

When Purdue put 100 on Rutgers in 2025, Smith had 23 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey combined for 25 points and 2 assists that game.

Smith outplayed LaBaron Philon (projected lottery) both times he played him. The two-game totals:

Smith: 46-14-13
Philon: 29-11-8

Purdue 2-0.

How about two games against Tyler Kolek, someone 2-years older?

Smith: 38-7-8
Kolek: 30-13-17

Purdue 2-0.

When Smith is drafted, he will become the 53rd Boilermaker selected in an NBA draft. And a franchise will be getting a steal.

If Memphis keeps its pick at 32, and you want Smith, you may be trading into the 1st Rd. How likely is that? Only a handful of ppl know. But the ppl who would be surprised if Smith goes 1st round are the ones who told you Edey would be in Shanghai - non-ball-knowers.

Before his previous jump in competition level, Braden Smith was an afterthought in the class-of-2022 HS rankings. He went on to win more NCAAT games than any Purdue player before him (10).

Keep betting against him.

3️⃣🐐

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

Dear Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn,

Thank you for an incredible four years of college basketball.

What you stand for and represent will never be taken for granted.

Walk proud.

Today.

Tomorrow.

And Forever.

Sincerely,

America

[Michigan Women’s Basketball @umichwbball]

Those Who Stay

Happy Senior Day, @ACrockett2022 💛💙

#GoBlue

[DerekJordanCBB @PurdueBballGuy]

PURDUE’S Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer have been paired together for 124 straight games. The best duo in America. Maybe college basketball history. Bring out the tissues in this emotional edit of them together. Purdue fans and college basketball fans alike will enjoy this.

Boilers Together From Day One | The Braden Smith & Fletcher Loyer Purdue... https://t.co/UDJXCFe3rT via @YouTube

[Purdue Men's Basketball @BoilerBall]

Every. Single. Game.

[Jordan Stocks @StockTalks21]

https://t.co/KkhS0JhANl

[The Sport Parent @TheSportParent]

Parents who cheer as loud for other children as they do their own are great parents to have around.

[Kevin DeShazo @KevinDeShazo]

Great leaders create a culture of sustained momentum, not just a moment of success. A culture that allows people to thrive and grow over the long run, not one where people succeed and then fade.

Consistent leadership creates consistent culture creates consistent results.

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

"Bad habits have a cost. Good habits have a price."

Mediocrity takes everything and gives you nothing.
Excellence demands everything—but nothing less will make you great.

[Purdue Men's Basketball @BoilerBall]

The only sophomore teammates in America to have scored 750 points each.

[Jon Beck @CoachJonBeck]

Your athletic career is most likely temporary; your character lasts a lifetime. The person you are is far more important than the player you are! What are your habits/routines? Are you grateful, humble, honest. Do you care for others? Be someone people respect on & off the court!

[Jamy Bechler @CoachBechler]

PLAYERS: You are never a neutral teammate. You are either making things better or making things worse on your team. You are either helping your teammates or not. You are either encouraging or not. You are either providing a good example or not. Great teams have great teammates.

[ginny smith @ginnyssmith]

@HammerAndRails it’s Braden Smith’s little brother though

[Hammer and Rails @HammerAndRails]

This is awesome. Really hoping that’s Braden Smith’s mom wearing the Edey jersey.

[Westfield, Indiana @CityofWestfield]

Watch two Central Indiana basketball stars (hint: one is a Westfield High School alum!) take on a new sport in this video, and be sure to join us @GrandParkSports for the Holiday Pickleball Festival! For more information, please visit https://t.co/B1KmT0z0Mz.

[Westfield Rocks Athletics @rocksathletics]

Pickleball is a great sport for all ages and levels. Even BIG college basketball stars like @3bradensmith & @TreyGalloway32 👀 bring their game to the the pickleball court! Click on the link for more information on upcoming events at Grand Park.

https://t.co/6oRdgEq8nw

[Purdue On BTN @PurdueOnBTN]

Bet you can’t watch it just once. 👀

[ginny smith @ginnyssmith]

Boiler Up 🚂🚂🚂⁦@boilersuitguys⁩ ⁦@BoilerBall⁩ ⁦@MauiInv⁩ 🤙🤙

[Jamy Bechler @CoachBechler]

HANDLING ADVERSITY

"If you use adversity right, it will buy you a ticket to a place you couldn't have gone any other way." (Tony Bennett)