Purdue center Zach Edey, the 2024 Naismith Player of the Year, declared for the NBA Draft, he told ESPN. The 7-foot-4 Canadian is projected to be a first-round pick and is No. 21 on The Athletic’s latest big board.
Edey posted a career-best 25.2 points with 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks on 62.3 percent shooting in 39 games during his senior season. While the Boilermakers lost to UConn in the national championship, Edey averaged 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 1.8 in six NCAA Tournament games.
His decorated college career includes being named to the 2021 Big Ten All-Freshman Team, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023 and 2024, earning back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024 and back-to-back Naismith Player of the Year awards.
Edey holds the program record for most points (2,516) and rebounds (1,321) at Purdue and is fourth in blocks (232).
Where is Edey projected to go on draft night?
The most common response I get from evaluators on the NBA side regarding Edey is the Nos. 15 to 25 range. Not quite a lottery pick, but a solid first-round pick due to his production and toughness in college. Edey’s regarded as an excellent screener and interior scorer who is likely to establish his position even against many of the strongest players the NBA has to offer. He can knock down foul shots and is aggressive on the offensive glass due to his 7-foot-10 wingspan.
The big questions come on defense. Edey got better over his four years at Purdue and particularly excelled in its drop coverage scheme. But putting him in more space in the NBA is seen as a concern in terms of guards and bigs turning the corner on him and beating him to the rim too easily. He’s seen as a good bet to become a backup center at least, with some potential to become a starter if his development goes right over the next couple of years. — Sam Vecenie, NBA Draft writer
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