Purdue star big man Zach Edey had 37 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the National Championship game vs. UConn but an inspired collective display saw Dan Hurley’s side secure consecutive college titles. The 2024 draft class is deemed weak, though the 22-year-old’s upside is unknown and many are skeptical about his long-term NBA future. Can he keep silencing the doubters?
Edey makes his presence felt, but Purdue fall short
- Edey had more than half of Purdue’s 60 points during a double-digit defeat in the championship game against UConn, where he physically outmatched Donovan Clingan and looked like a one-man army
- Currently, pro comparisons are a mix between Andre Drummond, Ivica Zubac and Jonas Valanciunas – the fact he doesn’t shoot threes, has slow feet and isn’t your typical prospect means many feel he’ll likely be a rotational player given how the league has become so fast-paced recently
- Embrace it? Criticism of his playstyle is overblown and fans should be more welcoming, considering the fanfare surrounding Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama
2024 NBA draft, split over two days this summer for the first time
June 26-27 in New York with C Alex Sarr, G Nikola Topic among top prospects
Two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey remains a polarising player
ZACH Edey isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, nor should he be. Whether it’s through exploiting his obvious physical advantages, or playing a brand of basketball that can be difficult for some purists to enjoy, the big man has been heavily scrutinised and that noise has never been louder, just months before he’s drafted into the NBA.
Although he went without an assist in the championship game, it wasn’t for want of trying – none of his teammates could match his scoring prowess, either in-and-around the paint nor from the perimeter as UConn almost dared them to create efficient attacks without their big man.
The 22-year-old played all but a minute of action (39-of-40 mins) and needed to, as Purdue wouldn’t have been competitive without him on both ends of the court.
Defensively his presence made opposition players think twice about driving into the paint, and offensively he was a constant pick-and-pop option, while bullying his way around the restricted area to good effect.
Much has been said about his plodding movement and how he’ll need to adapt quickly at the pro level but that criticism feels magnified through no fault of his own – being 7ft4in and 300lb – that makes this summer even more interesting to see which environment he joins, given the star-calibre players scattered leaguewide.
E’Twaun Moore, who had a decade-long career in the league, was among those visibly enamoured by Edey’s performance during the championship game as he formed part of a watchalong for Monday night’s game.
The 35-year-old shooting guard, another Purdue alumni, also spent four years in college before being drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2011 and praised the youngster’s big-time plays such as these:
As well as producing subtle brilliance in the paint like this, harder than it looks:
Okay, but where is he expected to go?
NBAdraft.net – 37 to Memphis (Ja Morant)
The Ringer – 17 to Miami (combining him with rim-protecting Bam Adebayo)
CBS Sports – 22 to New Orleans
Tankathon – 31 to Toronto
The Athletic – 21 to New York
GMS – 26 to Milwaukee
Sportingnews.com – 29 to Denver (learning from Jokic)
Sports Illustrated – 21 to Phoenix
Edey put together another National Player of the Year-caliber season as an immovable force in the paint. He has improved as a post scorer and passer, and he looks more mobile than in years past. Learning from an all-time great like Jokic would be the best possible situation for Edey to succeed.
More analysis to follow shortly…
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 