WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has announced that Purdue junior center Zach Edey is one of 20 players to be named to its preseason Player of the Year watch list.
Edey got his season off to a strong start in the exhibition game on Wednesday in Mackey Arena. He scored 23 points with seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in just 16 minutes. He went 8-of-9 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line.
Edey, a preseason All-American and unanimous choice on the preseason All-Big Ten team, was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree and honorable mention All-American (AP) a year ago after averaging 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks in just 19.0 minutes per game, while leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally in field goal percentage at 64.8 percent – the fifth-best single-season percentage in school history.
He is the only player in the last 30 years to average 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in under 20 minutes per game. In fact, he is one of just five players to accomplish that in under 25.0 minutes per game.
Edey, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Toronto, recorded 11 double-doubles during the 2021-22 season and was named to the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 15.0 points in wins over North Carolina and Villanova in November. He tallied a career-high 25 points against Michigan State in February and scored 20 or more points in nine games. He will carry a streak of 17 straight games in double-figures into the 2022-23 season.
He was at his best against ranked teams. In nine games against ranked squads, Edey averaged 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in just 20.2 minutes per game, while shooting 60.6 percent from the field.
The Boilermakers will open the regular season on Nov. 8, when Milwaukee visits Mackey Arena.
