Colgate’s Braeden Smith and Syracuse’s Judah Mintz are both among the finalists for College Insider’s Kyle Macy Award, presented annually to the top freshman in Division I basketball. Smith is the first Raider in program history to be named a finalist for the award.

They are two of the 25 finalists for the nation’s top freshman basketball honor.

Smith, the Patriot League All-Rookie point guard, has started every game and averages 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. His 154 assists this season broke the program’s freshman record previously held by Tucker Richardson with 132. 

Smith was a four-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week and has five 20-point performances already under his belt. The Seattle native helped lead the Raiders to their third consecutive Patriot League championship averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists in the conference tournament. He scored a team-high 19 points in a quarterfinal win over Loyola.

Mintz earned Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the week five times in his rookie campaign. At the conclusion of the regular season, he was tabbed as an All-ACC Honorable Mention and an All-ACC Freshman-Team selection.

Mintz finished 28 of 32 games in double-digit points and the last 13 straight contests. The guard led all freshmen across the league with 16.3 points per game and a 4.6 assists average. He also paced the ACC in steals per game (1.8).

The recipient of the 2023 award will be announced during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in Houston.