Report: Matt Painter says Canada’s Zach Edey won’t return to Purdue next season
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Purdue head coach Matt Painter told College Hoops Today’s Jon Rothstein that this will be Canadian centre Zach Edey’s final season of college basketball.
The Toronto native’s freshman season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which would allow him to play one more year at Purdue if he chose that route.
After winning the Naismith National Player of the Year in 2022-23, Edey is favoured to repeat in 2023-24. He would become just the third player to ever win the award multiple times, joining Bill Walton and Ralph Sampson.
The seven-foot-four 21-year-old is averaging 23.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game on 62.7 per cent shooting in 28 games this season.
Over his four seasons at Purdue, Edey has averaged 17.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Purdue currently holds a 23-3 record and is ranked No. 3 in NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball.
Despite claiming the Big 10 title in 2023 — where Edey was named MVP of the tournament — Purdue had an unceremonious exit from the NCAA tournament, becoming just the second No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed.
Farleigh Dickinson shocked the Boilermakers with a 63-58 upset.
Edey entered the NBA Draft in 2023, but chose to return to Purdue on his final day to make a decision.
He is ranked 13th on ESPN’s list of best prospects for the 2024 NBA Draft.
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