No surprises here.
7’4″ Purdue center Zach Edey is now officially a former Purdue center.
Edey will forego his extra year of eligibility which he received due to COVID-19 to enter the NBA draft.
“I felt like it was time,” Edey told ESPN. “I showed that I’m a physical presence on offense this season,” Edey said. “I also showed I can play defense. I can guard in space, even defend guards.”
The two-time National College Basketball Player of the Year has officially submitted the paperwork to enter the 2024 NBA draft.
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The Canadian has made quite a mark in college basketball.
ESPN ranks him as the No. 14 prospect in their draft projections, and his achievements speak volumes about his talent.
He’s achieved a feat not seen since Bill Walton in 1973 by winning unanimous National Player of the Year honors in 2024.
Edey’s dominance on the court is evident from his impressive statistics – leading the nation in scoring with an average of 24.9 points per game and ranking third in rebounding with 12.2 per game.
His tenure at Purdue has been historic, breaking records with over 2,500 points and 1,300 rebounds, a feat not accomplished in college basketball for over three decades.
Despite his individual brilliance, Edey’s focus has always been on team success.
He propelled Purdue to the national championship game, showcasing his prowess with a remarkable performance of 37 points and 10 rebounds, although they fell short against UConn.
His 177 points in the NCAA tournament tied him with Bill Bradley for the second-most in history, trailing only behind Michigan’s Glen Rice in 1989.
Remarkably, Edey believes there’s still more to his game that he’s yet to unveil, expressing anticipation for showcasing his skills at the NBA level.
“What wins in college and the NBA are totally different,” Edey said. “There are a lot of things I can do that people haven’t seen yet. I was focusing on impacting winning at Purdue and simplifying my game. Every year I’ve taken steps forward and there’s no reason I can’t keep getting better.”
“I needed to be on the floor at all times,” Edey said. “I had to be careful about fouling. I’m a better passer than people give me credit for. I was always looking to score when I got the ball down low, but I can make plays out of different situations more than I was able to show this year.”
Edey didn’t start playing basketball until he was a sophomore in high school in 2017 and admits he’s still learning.
“I’m still learning the game,” Edey said. “There were moments in practice at Purdue that I learned something basic, little stuff that maybe others were taught in sixth or seventh grade. I’m going to keep expanding my game and do things people haven’t seen from me.”
“Shooting is going to be a big thing in my workouts during the pre-draft process. Every day I’m getting the reps and my routine right to show off that part of my game.”
The NBA draft will be held on June 26 and June 27 in New York City.
