After years of postseason mediocrity, the Purdue Boilermakers exceeded expectations as a No. 1 seed and made it to the NCAA Tournament Finals. A big reason behind their success—literally and figuratively—was the dominant play of Zach Edey, whose size and skill have intrigued scouts for years.
Zach Edey 2024 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
A four-year player, the 7’4″, 285-pound Edey had the best season of his career as a senior. In 39 games—all starts—he averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2 assists per game. He shot 62% from the field, 50% from three and 71% from the free-throw line. He has consistently improved his game every year despite Purdue’s past early exits. This year marked Edey’s second consecutive season averaging a double-double—he put up 22 points and 13 boards per game as a junior.
Edey’s litany of awards across four years includes two AP Player of the Year honors, two Wooden and Naismith Awards, an All-Tourney selection and two Big-Ten All-Defensive Team nods.
Strengths
Given Edey’s massive frame, it’s no wonder why he’s able to dominate a game so easily. But what’s more unique is how he does it.
Edey, as many would expect, thrives in the post. He seals himself right away and is able to finish through contact, primarily through dunks or hook shots. Edey is just as good with pick-and-rolls, which is arguably his bread and butter. His strength allows him to set effective screens, and he’s first to the rim almost every time. Edey’s ability to post-up also leads to some solid reads as a playmaker, mostly to the perimeter and into the hands of a sharpshooting Boilermaker.
Aside from his paint dominance, Edey has displayed a decent jumper. He’s used it when defenders manage to keep him away from the restricted area, and it’s worked like a charm. Edey also made one of two threes in his career—both in this season. He isn’t going to be like Kristaps Porzingis from beyond the arc, but he can get lucky from the perimeter once in a while.
Defensively, Edey is a monster. He tallied 84 blocks and 11 steals this season. Edey’s 7’10” wingspan allows him to pin shots on the backboard or swat them into the stands. His frame alone is often an automatic deterrent for anyone trying to score at the rim. Edey is also able to keep up with opponents near the perimeter and force them to pass once they get into the paint.
Weaknesses
The main concern with Edey is how he’ll adjust to the NBA’s playing style, especially its speed. His pick-and-roll defense is suspect, and he will have to adjust to other teams’ defensive schemes, which will require him to also be more mobile than he is now.
Additionally, Edey has been perceived as an old school big. With how drastic the league has changed—especially for its centers—Edey must diversify his skill set to really succeed in the NBA. That means adjusting his offense to not be as reliant on post-up touches as it is now, as well as being faster in transition, where nearly every team thrives.
Finally, Edey must work on his free throws. He never shot better than 73% during his time at Purdue. If Edey’s going to do his damage in the paint, he must capitalize on opportunities at the charity stripe to back it up.
NBA Comparison
When watching Edey play, the first comparison that comes to mind is Ivica Zubac. Both players possess a soft touch at the rim and earn their living in the paint. This can be attributed to using their frames to their advantage. Zu counts on his 7-foot, 240-pound body to provide consistent production for the Clippers just as Edey has done for Purdue. They also share a common go-to move: the skyhook, which Zu has nearly perfected over the years. Both of them were also defensive anchors for their teams, encouraging opponents to think twice about driving into the key.
