A New Chapter for Braeden Smith
Braeden Smith, a 6’0 guard from Seattle, has always had a unique basketball journey. He started his college career in New York at Colgate, where he earned the Patriot League Player of the Year honors during his sophomore season. After two years with the Raiders, Smith moved back to the West Coast to join the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Spokane. Now, he’s set to take on a new challenge as he commits to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2026-27 season.
Smith’s decision to join Notre Dame comes after considering several options. He visited Washington, where he could have reunited with former Zag Steele Venters, and also took a trip to Utah before ultimately choosing Notre Dame. His commitment marks him as the third Gonzaga player to transfer to another program this offseason, following Venters (Washington) and Emmanuel Innocenti (Arizona State).
A Journey Through College Basketball
Smith’s time at Colgate was impressive. In his sophomore season, he averaged 12.5 points, 5.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, leading the Raiders to a 25-10 record. The team earned a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Baylor. After that, Smith entered the transfer portal and committed to Gonzaga with the intention of redshirting the 2024-25 season to learn the system and play behind seniors Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman.
The result was Smith being ready for the 2025-26 season, where he averaged 6.3 points and 4.9 assists through the first 16 games. He shot 54.3% on twos and 39.3% from beyond the arc, helping Gonzaga to a 15-1 record. His standout performances included a 21-point, seven-assist game against Oregon and a 15-point, eight-assist showing against Pepperdine.
However, as the season progressed, Smith gradually lost playing time to freshman Mario Saint-Supery. By mid-February, he wasn’t getting much run at all. Over the final nine games, Smith played more than 10 minutes just four times, averaging 11.7 MPG along with 3.1 points and 2.0 assists. In Gonzaga’s two NCAA Tournament games, he played just 11 total minutes and didn’t get a single field goal attempt. This led to his decision to enter the portal for his final season of eligibility.
Joining the Fighting Irish
At Notre Dame, Smith will join a backcourt that is in the process of rebuilding. The team lost Markus Burton to Indiana and Jalen Haralson to Tennessee, while Cole Certa moved to Clemson. Smith will partner with Shrewsberry’s son, also named Braeden, forming an undersized but potentially symbiotic backcourt in South Bend.
Alongside Ethan Roberts, who averaged 16.9 points and 2.3 assists at Penn last year, Smith should provide veteran experience and playmaking skills. He will operate as a facilitator for Braeden Shrewsberry and Roberts, as well as Winthrop transfer Logan Duncomb.
Impact on Gonzaga
Gonzaga now faces the challenge of replacing Smith. The team has just three players expected to return from last year’s squad: Saint-Supery, Davis Fogle, and Braden Huff. Redshirt freshmen Parker Jefferson and Alonzo Metz are also expected back, along with four newcomers: Isiah Harwell (Houston transfer), Jack Kayil, Luca Foster, and Sam Funches.
Gonzaga is currently looking to make a big splash in the frontcourt via the transfer portal, with Massamba Diop as the top target. The team has also made contact with several guards who could replace Smith, including Gavin Sykes (Long Beach State), Ethan Copeland (Stetson), Jeremiah Johnson (Campbell), and Mason Williams (Iowa State).
