Braden Smith opens as early favorite for 2026 John R. Wooden Award taken in Los Angeles (Wooden Award)

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Mar 28, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) reacts against the Houston Cougars in the first half during a Midwest Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Wooden Award

Braden Smith opens as early favorite for 2026 John R. Wooden Award

By The Sporting Tribune

Jul 9, 2025 • 4:47 pm

LOS ANGELES — Purdue point guard Braden Smith has opened as the early favorite to win the 2026 John R. Wooden Award, according to odds released by BetOnline.ag.

Smith, the shortest player among the early frontrunners, leads the board at 5/1. The junior guard played a key role in Purdue’s deep NCAA Tournament run last season and is expected to anchor the Boilermakers once again.

Texas Tech forward JT Toppin comes in next at 15/2 (+750), followed by Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg at 9/1 and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa at 10/1. Purdue also has another contender in forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, listed at 18/1.

Other notable names include UCLA’s Donovan Dent (25/1), Kentucky’s Ortega Oweh (25/1), UConn’s Alex Karaban (33/1), and Duke freshman Isaiah Evans (50/1). USC’s Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, debuts at 100/1.

The Wooden Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in men’s college basketball. Zach Edey of Purdue won the award in 2023 and 2024.

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