Braden Smith is perhaps the strongest player in the country.
Illustration; Photo by Sam Soliday
, the nation's No. 3-ranked guard according to 247Sports, has committed to Auburn.
Smith made the decision in a nationally-televised ceremony held at his school,
South (Olathe, Kan.).
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound senior chose Auburn over TCU and Texas A&M.
A quiet, reserved young man who played his recruitment close throughout the process, no one knew for sure where Smith would sign.
Entering Wednesday,
the 247 Crystal Ball favored TCU slightly over Auburn, 47 perfect to 38 percent, with Texas A&M as a dark horse at 12 percent.
Smith was relatively unknown on the recruiting scene even through his sophomore season, when he helped Olathe South capture a Class 6A state title.
A 2011 MaxPreps feature documented Smith's uncanny blend of size and strength, a combination that led to his intense recruitment.
It was Smith's strength that turned him into an internet sensation last month.
Olathe South head coach Jeff Gourley filmed a video of Smith bench pressing a whopping 515 pounds three times with seeming ease.
That video has since been viewed nearly half-a-million times.
