Indiana Mr. Basketball Braden Smith sits idle with big picture at Purdue in mind

WEST LAFAYETTE – Braden Smith doesn’t deviate from his routine.

Head to the locker room, put on his uniform – in this case it’s an Indiana All-Star outfit - and then slip on his warm-up shirt. Once out on the court, the incoming Purdue freshman goes through the layup line. He starts shooting from different spots on the floor. He’s focused.

Smith works up a sweat, moving closer and closer to peak performance.

But once the recent Westfield graduate is finished with warmups and the teams return to the floor, Indiana’s Mr. Basketball finds his spot on the bench. He’s not playing.

Smith didn’t play in Wednesday’s scrimmage against the Indiana Junior All-Stars. He didn’t play in Friday’s matchup against Kentucky in Owensboro. And he won’t play in Saturday’s game at Southport.

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“I’ll warm up, I’ll work out. I just won’t go live,” Smith said.

He’s coming off his second foot surgery, initially caused by a stress fracture. It’s been a battle to stay healthy and Purdue isn’t taking any chances with its incoming point guard, one who might have to log a lot of minutes as a rookie if a transfer doesn’t join the program. Regardless, Smith is going to see action this upcoming season.

In four weeks, Smith might receive clearance to go live. Until then, caution is the key word.

“He’s got to be healthy and that’s the one thing we have to make sure with him that we make wise decisions because he’s a competitive kid and he’ll be chomping at the bit to get back,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “We have to let him understand that the games that matter are in the winter and not the summer. That’s hard to do with competitive people.”

Eager doesn’t begin to describe Smith’s desire to play for the Indiana All-Stars, wearing the No. 1 jersey in the summer series against Kentucky. To some, it’s just another game. For Smith, it’s a chance to win and his competitive spirit overrides just about everything else.

It’s one of the reasons Painter thinks so highly of the 6-foot Smith, offering him a scholarship before other programs jumped in. It paid off with an early commitment.

“I feel like I can help,” said Smith, who averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 21 games. “I’m a really good facilitator. I can pass, drive, kick, and score when I need to.”

Right now, those skills are only shown in practice or warmups. No game action and after this weekend that won’t happen until late October or early November when Purdue plays its closed scrimmage, exhibition game and the season opener.

Until then, Smith sits idle.

“It sucks - 100 percent,” he said.

He called winning the state’s Mr. Basketball award an “unbelievable, awesome achievement” but he’s not slowing down. In fact, being named Indiana’s top player will drive Smith to new heights because that’s how he’s wired.

“I’m not sitting on it and not stopping since I got it,” said Smith, who led Westfield to its first sectional title last season. “I’m going to keep it going. I’ve still got things to do in college.”

One of those might be handling the point guard duties for the Boilermakers, along with Ethan Morton and freshman Fletcher Loyer, depending on if the final roster spot is filled.

Smith is ready. He’s prepared himself for this moment since focusing on basketball after the sixth grade when he stopped playing football and baseball.

“This is what I’ve worked for,” Smith said.

Mike Carmin covers Purdue sports for the Journal & Courier. Email mcarmin@gannett.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram @carmin_jc

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball: Indiana Mr. Basketball Braden Smith sits idle with big picture in mind