WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Zach Edey is one of 15 players named to the 2023 Men's National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club Saturday morning on ESPN's College Gameday.
Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the National Ballot consists of 15 student-athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All-American Team and Wooden Award Trophy as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States.
The front-runner for National Player of the Year awards, Edey has been named to the watch list for every major award this season.
Edey, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Toronto, is considered the front-runner for the National Player of the Year awards. He currently averages 22.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 assists per game while shooting over 60.0 percent from the field and nearly 75.0 percent from the free throw line – ranking ninth nationally in scoring and second in rebounds. He also leads the country with 23 double-doubles.
He is one of just two Big Ten players in the last 30 years (Michigan's Chris Webber) to have at least 600 points, 350 rebounds and 50 blocked shots and is on pace to become the first player since Navy's David Robinson in 1985-86 to have at least 750 points, 450 rebounds and 50 blocked shots in a season. His nine games of 25 points and 10 rebounds are the most for a major-college player since the 2006-07 season behind just Luke Harangody, Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant. Lastly, he is on pace to become the first Big Ten player in over 50 years to average 22.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per game in a season.
Edey currently leads the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, and is on pace to become the second player in Big Ten history and the first since Ohio State's Gary Bradds in 1963-64 to lead the league in all three categories.
Edey has also been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.
The No. 5-ranked Boilermakers host Illinois on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET, in Mackey Arena.
Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the National Ballot consists of 15 student-athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All-American Team and Wooden Award Trophy as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States.
The front-runner for National Player of the Year awards, Edey has been named to the watch list for every major award this season.
Edey, a 7-foot, 4-inch center from Toronto, is considered the front-runner for the National Player of the Year awards. He currently averages 22.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 assists per game while shooting over 60.0 percent from the field and nearly 75.0 percent from the free throw line – ranking ninth nationally in scoring and second in rebounds. He also leads the country with 23 double-doubles.
He is one of just two Big Ten players in the last 30 years (Michigan's Chris Webber) to have at least 600 points, 350 rebounds and 50 blocked shots and is on pace to become the first player since Navy's David Robinson in 1985-86 to have at least 750 points, 450 rebounds and 50 blocked shots in a season. His nine games of 25 points and 10 rebounds are the most for a major-college player since the 2006-07 season behind just Luke Harangody, Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant. Lastly, he is on pace to become the first Big Ten player in over 50 years to average 22.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per game in a season.
Edey currently leads the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, and is on pace to become the second player in Big Ten history and the first since Ohio State's Gary Bradds in 1963-64 to lead the league in all three categories.
Edey has also been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.
The No. 5-ranked Boilermakers host Illinois on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET, in Mackey Arena.