POY Edey withdraws from draft, go back to Purdue

• Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterMay 31, 2023, 09:48 PM ET

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Edey, the agreement National Player of the Year, announced Wednesday that he is withdrawing his name from the NBA draft and going back to the Boilermakers for another season.Edey at first entered his name into the draft in mid-April and had until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to make a final decision. This marks the 2nd season in a row that the guys’s college basketball player of the year has decided to return to college rather of turn professional, after Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe did so last year.A 7-foot-4 center from Canada, Edey was the most dominant player in the sport

last season. He averaged 22.9 points and 12.9 rebounds and shot 60.7%from the field– ranking sixth in scoring, second in rebounds and 21st in field goal percentage. Edey likewise balanced more than two blocked shots per game. He scored at least 30 points on eight celebrations, including 38 points and 13 rebounds in a late-January win over Michigan State. Edey scored in double figures in every game last season and had 28 double-doubles. Edey, who will be a senior this fall, made remarkable strides in his 3 years in West Lafayette under Matt Painter, entering college as an unranked recruit coming out of high school. Despite his college production and distinctions, Edey wasn’t predicted to be selected in the preliminary of next month’s NBA draft. He’s ranked No. 47 in ESPN’s 2023 NBA draft rankings, slotting in as the No. 4 center.With Edey leading the way, Purdue was ranked No. 1 in the polls for parts of last season, while winning both the Big Ten regular-season and conference competition champions. The Boilermakers made a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament before being shocked by 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round.Painter’s group should be back in the mix for a top-five preseason ranking, with all 5 beginners coming back to West Lafayette.