Author: Monojit Mandal
Purdue’s star forward Zach Edey has opted to withdraw his name from the NBA draft and return to the Boilermakers for another season, in an unexpected turn of events. Edey, who stood out as the most dominant player in college basketball last season, broke the news on Wednesday, just hours before the deadline for applications.
This is the second year in a row that the winner of the men’s college basketball player of the year award has chosen to postpone his professional aspirations and go back to school. Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky made a similar decision last year.
Edey, who is six feet tall and Canadian, was nothing short of spectacular on the court last season. He averaged 22.9 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, while shooting an incredible 60.7% from the field. With those numbers, he ranked sixth in scoring, second in rebounding and 21st in field goal percentage. Edey also showed off his defensive skills with an average of more than two blocked shots per game. Notably, he has scored at least 30 points in eight consecutive games, including a remarkable 38-point, 13-rebound showing against Michigan State at the end of January. Edey showed consistency by scoring in double figures in every game this season and recording 28 double-doubles.
Edey, who arrived at Purdue as an unranked prospect, has had incredible development during his three years under head coach Matt Painter. Despite his excellent performance and honors in college, Edey’s chances of making the NBA team were not so good. According to ESPN’s rankings for the 2023 NBA draft, he is 47th overall and fourth among centers.
With Edey’s return, Purdue is considered a strong contender for a top-five finish in the preseason. The team, which was ranked first in the polls at times during the last phase, won the Big Ten regular season and conference tournament titles. Despite these achievements, her participation in the NCAA tournament was cut short by a surprising first-round defeat to Fairleigh Dickinson, who was 16 years old.
Coach Painter and the Boilermaker fans have every reason to be excited about the upcoming season, as all five starters will return. Edey’s choice to skip the NBA draft and continue his growth at Purdue strengthens the team’s chances of having a strong season next year.