Zach Edey enters the 2024 NBA draft: 7ft 4ins superstar reveals ‘it is time’ after record-breaking college career with Purdue

Zach Edey, the 7-foot-4 star who enjoyed one of the most decorated careers in college basketball, is entering the 2024 NBA draft.

The center was the consensus national player of the year despite his Purdue team losing the national championship game to UConn earlier this month.

“I felt like it was time,” Edey said ESPN . ‘I have shown this season that I am a physical presence in attack… I have also shown that I can play defense. I can guard in space and even defend guards.”

The center from Canada entered the 2023 draft before opting to return to Purdue for his senior year.

He then led No. 1 seed Purdue to the March Madness finals before recording 37 points and 10 rebounds against UConn.

It was the most points scored in a national championship game since 1978, while his total of 177 points in the tournament was the second-highest ever.

But Edey insists there are still elements to his game that he will only unlock once he joins the professional ranks.

“What wins in college and in the NBA are completely different,” Edey told ESPN. “There are a lot of things I can do that people haven’t seen yet.

“I focused on impacting winning at Purdue and simplifying my game. Every year I’ve taken steps forward and there’s no reason why I can’t keep getting better.’

Edey didn’t start playing basketball seriously until 2017 as a high school sophomore. Until then, his focus was mainly on hockey and baseball.

“I’m still learning the game,” Edey said. “There were times in practice at Purdue when I learned something basic, little things that others might have learned in sixth or seventh grade. I’m going to continue to step up my game and do things that people haven’t seen from me yet.”