Zach Edey 2024 NBA Draft Profile

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.