WEST LAFAYETTE – Zach Edey’s rapid rise how a basketball star now takes the 7-foot center to a new destination.
The Memphis Grizzlies franchise selected Purdue basketball’s Edey with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of Wednesday’s NBA draft.
Edey started playing organized basketball seven years ago. After Edey’s basketball debut in Toronto, he attended IMG Academy in Florida before coming to Purdue and leading the Boilermakers to their first NCAA Final Four since 1980 and first title game appearance since 1969 last April.
Now, the two-time consensus National Player of the Year becomes the 10th Purdue player drafted who played under Boilermaker coach Matt Painter and the 51st overall in program history.
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What Purdue center Zach Edey brings to the Grizzlies
Edey’s most desirable asset is his size.
At the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, Edey measured 7-4 without shoes. At Purdue, he was an elite blocker (1.7 per game in four seasons, 2.2 per game last season) and rebounder (12.9 and 12.2 per game, respectively, the last two seasons).
As a predominantly back-to-the-basket post, Edey averaged over 25 points per game as a senior. Edey was a career 62.1% shooter at Purdue and 70.6% from the free throw line. Edey also excelled in the pick-and-roll, combining with point guard Braden Smith.
Edey’s ability to create space for ball handlers should be an asset that will increase his stock in the NBA.
“Purdue’s system became more NBA-oriented my senior year,” Edey said. “We did a lot more ball screens, we did a lot more actions, a lot more movements. That’s going to help me at the next level.”
Unanswered Questions About Zach Edey
The problem against Edey is that he doesn’t spread the floor like today’s NBA offenses. Most of his points in college came in the paint or from the free throw line.
Edey showed off his long-range shooting at the combine, making 14 of 25 3-pointers in front of the scouts. But he only attempted two at Purdue and gambled on his only mark.
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At Purdue, Edey was a rim protector. While he has shown at times that he can come out and defend on the perimeter, or at least recover with his length if he is beaten off the dribble, Edey is most comfortable in the low position.
Ultimately, there are still parts of Edey’s game that need to be adapted for the NBA. But Edey has always been coachable and has shown significant improvement annually throughout his college career.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sing@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared in the Lafayette Journal & Courier: Memphis Grizzlies select Purdue basketball’s Zach Edey in 2024 NBA Draft
