What to know about Zach Edey, Purdue's star big man
You can't have the men's NCAA Tournament without the potential back-to-back national player of the year.
Zach Edey is back and leading Purdue into March Madness again, and is a major reason the Boilermakers are a No. 1 seed for the second straight season. This time, Purdue is hoping for a better outcome than last year – when it was eliminated by a No. 16 seed – and looking to make the Final Four for the first time since 1980. If Purdue does that, Edey will likely be a big reason for the trip to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Here is everything to know about Purdue center Zach Edey:
Who is Zach Edey?
Edey is a senior center from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He grew up playing hockey and baseball but started playing basketball during his sophomore year of high school. For his senior year, he went to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
How tall is Zach Edey? What's his shoe size?
Edey is 7 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds. His shoe size is 20.
Purdue record with Zach Edey
Since joining Purdue in 2020, the Boilermakers have been one of the most successful teams in Division I with a 106-28 record in Edey's four seasons. It's the third-best winning percentage (79%) in that timespan, behind Houston and Gonzaga.
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Purdue has made it to the NCAA Tournament each season Edey has been on the team, with the best finish being a Sweet 16 appearance in 2022. Purdue has won two Big Ten regular-season titles and one Big Ten tournament championship.
Zach Edey awards
Edey has racked up several honors in his time in West Lafayette. He started by being named to the Big Ten all-freshman team, and in his second season, was named second-team all-Big Ten.
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The accolades picked up last season when Edey was named the 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten all-defense team, Big Ten tournament Most Valuable Player, a consensus All-American and was the national player of the year. This season, Edey was once again named the Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten all-defense team and is the leading candidate for national player of the year. With all of his accomplishments, Purdue retired Edey's jersey on his senior night.
Is Zach Edey going to the NBA?
This will be Edey's last season playing for Purdue. Head coach Matt Painter told CBS Sports in February that Edey will not use his extra COVID-19 year and will declare for the NBA draft.
Zach Edey 2023-24 stats
With another outstanding season, Edey ranks high in Division I in several statistical categories. His stats for this season:
24.4 points per game (1st in Division I)
11.7 rebounds per game (3rd in Division I)
2.2 blocks per game (20th in Division I)
270 field goals made (1st in Division I)
61.9% field-goal percentage (16th in Division I)
Purdue's next game in NCAA Tournament
After defeating Utah State in the second round, the Boilermakers will face Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Zach Edey? What to know about Purdue's star big man
