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Zach Edey, star Purdue big man, shares future plans for playing career
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Zach Edey turned in an impressive performance for Purdue during the 2022-23 season, capturing the major National Player of the Year Awards. Unfortunately, the Boilermakers fell as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
On Tuesday, Edey officially announced his plans for the future, declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. Edey also confirmed he’ll maintain his college eligibility in the process, so a return for Matt Painter’s program is not out of the question.
“My basketball journey has been unorthodox, to say the least, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it,” Edey wrote.
“From ranked 437 in my class to National Player of the Year, I can’t put into words what Purdue University, my teammates, my coaches and our fans mean to me. Though we fell short of our ultimate goal this season, I loved every second of it.
“With that being said, I’m putting my name in the NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility. I will evaluate my future after going through the process and look forward to what’s next!”
— zach (@zach_edey) April 18, 2023
Edey has improved his numbers each season at Purdue, posting a career-high season with 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 61% from the field. The 7-foot-4 center also improved his free-throw shooting to 73% while playing nearly 32 minutes per game.
It remains to be seen how Edey’s draft prospects shape up with the way the NBA game is played in this era, but he has lifted his ceiling each season with the Boilermakers. If he were to return for a senior season in West Lafayette, Purdue would be back among the favorites to win the B1G and compete for a title next season.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.