Zach Edey

Zach Edey
Edey playing for the Purdue Boilermakers on March 11, 2022
No. 15 – Memphis Grizzlies
PositionCenter
LeagueNational Basketball Association
Personal information
Born (2002-05-14) May 14, 2002 (age 22)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Listed height7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
Listed weight300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High schoolLeaside
(Toronto, Ontario)
IMG Academy
(Bradenton, Florida)
CollegePurdue (2020–present)
NBA draft2024 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards

Zachary Cheyne Edey (born May 14, 2002) is a Canadian professional basketball player. He is a center for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Edey was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2023 and was also a two-time men's Big Ten Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

Edey is 7 foot 4 inches, making him the tallest player in the history of the Big Ten and one of the tallest people in history.[1]

Career

College

Edey played high school basketball first at Leaside High School in Toronto before moving to Bradenton, Florida to play at IMG Academy.[2]

He would be recruited to Purdue as a three-star recruit.[3]

During his first year at Purdue, Edey would be named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and would average around 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.[4]

The next year, Edey became the starting center for the Boilermakers. He would be named to the Second Team All-Big Ten Team and would average 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.[5]

Edey would find even more success during his third year. He would tie Purdue's record for most awards when he was named the Big Ten Player of the Week six times over the season.[6] He would also be named Big Ten Player of the Year and Sporting News National Player of the Year at the end of the season.[7]

During his last year at Purdue, Edey would record 1000 rebounds in his career, only the second Purdue player to do so. He would also record 2,000 career points, becoming the sixth player in the history of the Big Ten to accomplish it.[8] He would break Purdue's records for double digit scoring in 74 straight games and 55 double-doubles.[9]

He would once again be named the Big Ten Player of the Year and would win his second Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year award in a row.[10][11] Edey would also be named as a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award.[12]

Professional

On June 26, 2024, Edey was selected 9th overall in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.[13]

National team

Edey plays for the Canada men's national basketball team. He played for them during the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup where Canada would win a bronze medal.[14]

He would also play for them during the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023. During the tournament, he helped Canada defeat France, Germany, and World champions Spain to help Canada clinch a spot in the Olympics for the first time since 2000.[15] Canada would defeat the United States to win the bronze medal. It was Canada's first international medal since 1936.[16]

References

  1. "7–6!?! Purdue's Zach Edey is getting taller — and better. Where it ends, nobody knows". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  2. "'It seems like a movie': Purdue's new big man Zach Edey was on skates until two years ago". The Athletic. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  3. "Purdue basketball lands 7–6 Canadian big man Zach Edey". Journal & Courier. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  4. "Purdue's Williams named first-team All-Big Ten; Edey, Ivey selected to All-Freshman squad". Journal & Courier. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  5. "Purdue Center Zach Edey Unanimously Voted to 2022-23 Preseason All-Big Ten Team". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  6. "Purdue Center Zach Edey Unanimously Voted to 2022-23 Preseason All-Big Ten Team". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  7. "Purdue's Zach Edey is Sporting News' College Basketball Player of the Year". The Sporting News. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  8. "Purdue's Edey joins 2K point-1K rebound club". ESPN. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  9. "No. 2 Purdue wins 75-69 at No. 6 Wisconsin for 7th consecutive victory". ESPN. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  10. "Purdue's Zach Edey named Big Ten player of year for second straight season". Fox Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  11. "Canadian NCAA hoops star Zach Edey wins 2nd straight AP player of the year". CBC Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  12. "Edey finalist for Wooden Award for second-straight year". Sportsnet. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  13. "Memphis Grizzlies select Canadian Zach Edey with ninth pick in NBA Draft". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  14. "Canada Earns Bronze at FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021 With Victory Over Serbia". Canada Basketball. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  15. "Down go the champs: Canada knock out Spain in thriller". Canada Basketball. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  16. "Canada holds off U.S. to win bronze at men's Basketball World Cup in OT". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 5, 2024.

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