Arkansas' All-Time Assist Leader Joins Natives Portaling for Latest, Greatest Home

Braden Smith's storybook Purdue career is over, but these fellow native Arkansans are hunting for greener grass in the transfer portal.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:12pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, gold, and crimson red, capturing the dynamic movement and energy of the sport.The transfer portal has become a major part of college basketball, with Arkansas natives seeking new opportunities to showcase their elite passing skills.Springdale Today

Arkansas basketball boasted arguably the best collegiate point guard in the country this past season in Darius Acuff Jr., but the title of best guard born in the Natural State isn't up for debate. Braden Smith took the Big Ten by storm over the last four seasons, leading Purdue to at least the second weekend each year and breaking the NCAA record for career assists. While Smith is no longer eligible to play college ball, the Natural State's assist king at the high school level, Amare Neal, has entered the transfer portal and committed to Hutchinson C.C. (Kan.). Joining him is Layne Taylor, who cemented himself in the history books during a three-year career at Farmington High, dishing out 715 assists and leading the Cardinals to two state championships.

Why it matters

The transfer portal has become a major part of college basketball, with players seeking new opportunities to showcase their skills. The influx of Arkansas natives entering the portal highlights the talent pipeline from the Natural State and the desire of these players to find the best fit for their continued development and success.

The details

Braden Smith broke the NCAA record for career assists, surpassing Bobby Hurley's 1,076 dimes. By the time Purdue was eliminated by Arizona in the Elite Eight, the senior had pushed the record up to 1,103. Despite receiving only a three-star ranking out of high school, Amare Neal had one of the more dominant careers in Arkansas high school history, leading Tuckerman High to the 2A title game as a senior and finishing just one point shy of tying Hog legend Corliss Williamson in career points with 2,267 while setting the state record for career assists (753). Layne Taylor cemented himself in the history books during a three-year career at Farmington High, dishing out 715 assists and leading the Cardinals to two state championships.

  • In the Boilermakers' first-round game of March Madness against Queens, Smith broke the NCAA record for career assists.
  • By the time Purdue was eliminated by Arizona in the Elite Eight, the senior had pushed the record up to 1,103.

The players

Braden Smith

A senior at Purdue who broke the NCAA record for career assists, surpassing Bobby Hurley's 1,076 dimes.

Amare Neal

A three-time All-State selection in Arkansas high school basketball, finishing just one point shy of tying Hog legend Corliss Williamson in career points with 2,267 while setting the state record for career assists (753).

Layne Taylor

Cemented himself in the history books during a three-year career at Farmington High, dishing out 715 assists and leading the Cardinals to two state championships.

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The takeaway

The influx of Arkansas natives entering the transfer portal highlights the talent pipeline from the Natural State and the desire of these players to find the best fit for their continued development and success. As the transfer portal continues to shape the landscape of college basketball, the stories of these Arkansas-born standouts showcase the depth of basketball talent in the state.