What you should know about unanimous national player of the year Zach Edey of Purdue basketball

Purdue basketball junior center Zach Edey took an unlikely path to unanimous national Player of the Year. The Canadian played baseball and hockey as a youth, and resisted basketball until high school. He wound up at IMG Academy, where Purdue – which is known for recruiting big men – found him. Edey is now part of Canada's national team and led the Boilermakers to Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships.

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Zach Edey 2023 national player of the year honors

Here is his hardware: Wooden Award; Naismith Award; Associated Press; U.S. Basketball Writers Association; National Association of Basketball Coaches; Sporting News.

Zach Edey stats

In the 2022-23 season through March 12, Edey is averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game, playing a team-leading 31.7 minutes. He is shooting 60.7% from the field and 73.4% on free throws.

In 99 career games, Edey averages 15.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots, while shooting 61.9% from the field and 70.2% on free throws. He split time with Trevion Williams as Purdue's center his first two seasons.

Zach Edey is Big Ten Player of the Year

Edey and IU big man Trayce Jackson-Davis were the only unanimous first-team All-Big Ten players this season. Edey had a nation-leading 23 double-doubles before the Big Ten tournament as Purdue won the conference regular-season championship.

Zach Edey doesn't need a ladder

Purdue celebrated its Big Ten championship by cutting down the nets at Mackey Arena on March 5. While the rest of the team used a ladder to get an angle to cut a piece of net, Edey just stepped up.

Zach Edey NBA Draft

After Purdue's loss to Fairleigh Dickinson in the 2023 NCAA tournament, he didn't say whether he would enter the NBA Draft or return to the Boilermakers.

"I want to come back and I want to go to war with them, but at the end of the day I have to make the best decision for me," he said Edey. "I have no idea how long my career is going to last. I have no idea what’s going to happen in my future."

He is projected as a second-round prospect, if he is drafted at all. From Sports Illustrated:

"While he has good touch around the rim and is even a good positional free throw shooter, Edey is not a perimeter scorer at all. His game is focused around the paint, meaning he doesn’t take any 3-point shots at all.

"As such, his fit at the next level is interesting. As a center 20 years ago, he’d be the perfect prospect. However, in the modern NBA he feels like more of a situational bit off the bench.

"Defensively, Edey is a quality shot blocker but is very slow due to his size. He doesn’t have the quickness to stay in front of guards or wings, so he relies on his strength and size to alter shots.

"Overall, he’s worth a team taking him in the second round. While it may seem like he doesn’t have much more room to expand his game, Edey didn’t actually play basketball until his sophomore year of high school. He’s still learning, and the improvement just over the past few years is impressive."

How old is Zach Edey?

20. He was born on May 14, 2002, in Toronto, Canada.

How tall is Zach Edey?

7 feet, 4 inches. The Purdue roster lists him at 305 pounds and he reportedly has a 7-7 wingspan.

Who is No. 15 on Purdue?

Zach Edey.

What size shoe does Zach Edey wear?

20.

Purdue basketball's record when Zach Edey plays

76-23 in 99 games. The Boilermakers made the Sweet 16 in 2022. They were eliminated by No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the 2023 tournament.

Zach Edey parents

Glen and Julia Edey. Zach Edey's mother is active on social media during games.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Zach Edey stats, NBA Draft profile, age, height, shoe size, parents