The 7’4” star doesn’t plan to use his COVID eligibility year to return to the Boilermakers next season.
Purdue center Zach Edey will not use his fifth year of college eligibility to return to the Boilermakers next season, coach Matt Painter told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Monday morning.
Edey has the option of remaining with the Boilermakers for a fifth season because of an NCAA rule regarding the 2020-21 COVID season. He is expected to declare for the 2024 NBA draft. Edey initially declared for the draft last season, but withdrew his name on May 31.
Purdue is ranked No. 3 in the nation with a 25–3 record. The Boilermakers were a No. 1 seed in last season’s NCAA tournament favorite, but they were upset by No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round.
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This season, Edey is averaging a career-high 23.7 points per game, along with 11.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
Edey became just the third player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 blocks, and at least 60% shooting from the field earlier this season, joining Patrick Ewing and David Robinson.
Edey won the Naismith and Wooden Awards last season as well as the Big Ten’s Player of the Year award.
The Boilermakers (14–3 in Big Ten play) have three regular-season games remaining before the conference tournament. They play host to Michigan State (17–11, 9–8) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
