Notre Dame Lands Gritty Transfer Guard Braeden Smith

0:00On April 20th, Notre Dame just landed a gritty trans-regard named Braden Smith from Gonzaga. This 6-foot-0K from Seattle first balled at Colgate for two seasons, then redshirted a year with the Zags before starting 18 of. 35 games in the 2025-2026 season, he's stepping in to help rebuild their back court after losing key pieces. Smith brings solid numbers, averaging 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last year. At Colgate, he was patriotly player of the year, putting up 12.5 points, 5.5 boards, and 5.6 dimes. Career-wise, he's got over 1000 points, 145 steals, and a sharp 478 to 189. Assist to turnover ratio. Fans and scouts see him as a fearless playmaker who handles the ball like glue, thanks to his low center of gravity. Notre Dame lost Marcus Burden to Indiana, Jalen Harrelson to Tennessee, and Cole Serda to Clemson.

1:01So his aggression and vision fill a huge gap. Alongside guys like Braden Shrewsbury and Logan Eimes. He's a volume 3-point shooter at about 33%, attacks the rim hard from his football background, and crashes boards well for his size. Standout games include 21 points and 7 assists against Oregon, and 15 points with 5 rebounds and 8 assists versus Pepperdine. In the end, Smith is like a budget version of their old star Marcus Burden, giving the Irish a quick fix for their wonky guard rotation heading into. 2026-2027. Smart pickup for the long haul.