By SAM LANCE & ADAM ZAGORIA
Purdue center and likely back-to-back national player of the year Zach Edey won’t be back at Purdue next season, head coach Matt Painter told ZAGSBLOG.
“He was never coming back,” Painter said.
The 7-foot-4 Edey is currently projected as the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft, per ESPN.com.
“He’ll be in the first round because he’s like Yao Ming,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla said recently on air.
Edey was named national player of the year in 2023 after posting averages of 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Purdue, though, had an ugly ending to the season becoming the second-ever No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
This postseason, Edey and Purdue will look to avoid a repeat of last year, as the Boilermakers will likely be a No. 1 seed again. Instead, Edey will try to lead Purdue to Phoenix and take the Boilermakers to their first Final Four since 1980.
Edey is averaging 23.7 points and 11.8 rebounds this season. He is also shooting 62.7% from the floor and leading the nation in free throws made. He will likely repeat as national player of the year.
Purdue currently sits at 25-3 overall and first place in the Big 10 conference at 14-3.
The 7-foot-4 big man will next be in action for the Boilermakers on Saturday, March 2, vs. Michigan State. Edey has just three regular season games left in his career with his senior night coming up on Sunday, March 10 vs. Wisconsin.
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