Can you guess who?
Awards season is upon us and whether Wicked or Emilia Perez is your favorite musical, there’s something out there for everyone. Touches earpiece I’m being told these awards have nothing to do with musicals or movies and are in fact about the best player in college basketball. That makes much more sense.
Today, the Naismith Award announced their midseason watch list which include 30 players. Purdue had two Boilermakers on the list and no surprise it’s Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn. Purdue of course hopped in with a great graphic to honor the two.
A pair on the @NaismithTrophy list.
Smith, TKR on 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Midseason Team. pic.twitter.com/Ek2yZkAwyo
— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) February 14, 2025
Braden Smith has been added to just about every watch list that it out there and is likely to be in the running for Big Ten Player of the Year, the All-American teams, and the Big Ten all-defense team. Trey Kaufman-Renn has had trouble getting himself onto position specific watchlists, but being added to the Naismith list is a huge honor.
This award is given out during the Final Four which this year will be in San Antonio. Purdue will be there taking on Auburn (trying to manifest here). The list will be whittled down later on before the winner is announced. Congrats to both!