steady, smart Zags guard with playmaking juice
In the 2025-26 season, Braeden Smith gave Gonzaga a poised 6-foot floor general, averaging 5.1 points, 3.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals while shooting 46.7% from the field and 80.5% at the line. The big differentiator is his control: he’s a pass-first guard who keeps the offense organized, competes defensively, and brings veteran calm rather than flashy volume. After redshirting in 2024-25, he returned as a redshirt junior and looked like a reliable connector—useful for a team that values decision-making, ball security, and competitive intensity over pure scoring pop.
