Notre Dame Secures Point Guard with Gonzaga Transfer Braeden Smith
Notre Dame has officially added a new point guard to its roster, as Gonzaga transfer Braeden Smith committed to the Irish. This announcement came from a conversation between Smith and Joe Tipton on Sunday evening.
The move comes as Notre Dame looks to replace Markus Burton, who was the team’s lead guard during head coach Micah Shrewsberry’s first three seasons. Smith, standing at 6-foot tall, showed promise during his time with the Bulldogs, averaging 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and an impressive 3.6 assists in 17.1 minutes per game. He played in 35 games last season, starting 18 of them.
Smith joins a growing list of transfers for Notre Dame, including former Penn wing Ethan Roberts and former Winthrop center Logan Duncomb. The Irish are still looking to make one more significant addition, likely a forward or a second wing.
As a graduate transfer, this marks Smith’s third school, and he has one year of eligibility remaining after redshirting the 2024-25 season at Gonzaga. Before joining the Bulldogs, he was named the Patriot League Player of the Year with Colgate in the 2023-24 season. That year, he averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.
A Pure Point Guard with Elite Passing Skills
Smith is considered one of the purest point guards in college basketball. His assist rate of 30.8 ranked 76th in Division I this past season, according to KenPom. Three years ago, while at Colgate, his assist rate was even higher, ranking 16th at 35.7. His assist-to-turnover ratio was also strong, at over 3 to 1.
Defensively, Smith brings value as well. He ranked 57th in steal rate during his final season at Colgate and 144th last year at Gonzaga.
On the offensive end, Smith can score as well. He posted a slash line of 46.7% on field goals, 33.3% on three-pointers (in just 51 attempts), and 80.5% on free throws. His primary role will be to set up Notre Dame’s top scorers, which should include a mix of Duncomb, Roberts, senior guard Braeden Shrewsberry, and sophomore guard Brady Koehler.
Analytical Performance and Expectations
From an analytical standpoint, Smith rates very well on EvanMiya.com. While the site ranks him as the No. 250 transfer in the 2026 cycle, it also places him at No. 79. His projected Bayesian Performance Rating for next season, which measures a player’s value to a team when he’s on the floor, is 4.32. This includes a 3.14 mark on offense and a 1.18 rating on defense.
Smith won’t be expected to match Burton’s scoring output, as the Mishawaka native averaged 19.1 points per game throughout his college career. Instead, he will be expected to run the show as an experienced point guard and set the table for his teammates.
Competition for Starting Role
Smith will compete with incoming freshman Jonathan Sanderson for the starting point guard job when Notre Dame opens its season in Rome, Italy against Villanova. This competition could shape the team’s strategy and depth moving forward.
With Smith’s arrival, Notre Dame is poised to strengthen its backcourt and improve its overall playmaking ability. His experience, leadership, and skills as a passer make him a valuable addition to the program.
