Purdue’s Edey declares for draft, keeps eligibility

Purdue center Zach Edey, the consensus nationwide player of the year in guys’s college basketball, announced Tuesday that he plans to get in the NBA draft while keeping his college eligibility.Edey has till Might 31 if he wishes to withdraw from the draft and return to the Boilermakers for his senior season.”My basketball journey has been

unorthodox to say the least, but I would not change a thing about it,”Edey composed in a post on social media.” From ranked 437 in my class to National Gamer of the Year, I can’t take into words what Purdue University, my colleagues, my coaches, and our fans mean to me. Though we disappointed our ultimate goal this season, I liked every second of it.”With that being said, I’m putting my name in the NBA

draft while keeping my college eligibility. I will evaluate my future after going through the procedure and anticipate what’s next.”Editor’s Picks A 7-foot-4 center from Canada, Edey dominated all season and

led Purdue to Big 10 regular-season and conference competition champions. He balanced 22.9 points and 12.9 rebounds and shot 60.7%from the field– ranking 6th in scoring, second in rebounds and 21st in field-goal percentage. Edey likewise balanced more than 2 blocked shots per game.He scored a minimum of 30 points on eight celebrations, including finishing with 38 points and 13 rebounds in a late-January win over Michigan State. Edey scored in double figures in every game this season and had 28 double-doubles. Edey made significant strides in his three years in West Lafayette under Matt Painter, getting in college as an unranked recruit coming out of high school.Purdue reached No. 1 in the polls and earned a 1-seed in the NCAA competition before being stunned by 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round.Edey is ranked No. 49 total– the No. 5 center– in ESPN’s 2023 NBA draft rankings.