Two-time faculty basketball Participant of the Yr Zach Edey formally declared for the NBA Draft on Tuesday, and the intriguing professional prospect already has one fan.
ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony famous “vital strides” Edey made to his recreation in 2023-24, together with “his conditioning, mobility, passing and defensive versatility.” He added that the previous Purdue heart teased “there’s extra to his recreation he is but to point out.”
The subsequent couple of months will likely be big for Edey, who may see his NBA Draft inventory soar by impressing groups and scouts.
He was dominant at Purdue, together with in the course of the crew’s run to the 2024 nationwide championship recreation. Edey completed the 2023-24 season averaging 25.2 factors and 12.2 rebounds per recreation. Within the title recreation loss to UConn, Edey had 37 factors and 10 rebounds.
Regardless of his large numbers, skepticism stays about his professional potential. There is not a lot of a spot in at the moment’s recreation for a giant who lacks the power to stretch the ground offensively or swap defensively. Edey lived within the paint with the Boilermakers and likewise wasn’t requested to defend a lot on the perimeter.
On the subsequent degree, it is easy to think about a situation the place faster, smaller gamers exploit him within the pick-and-roll. With out a lot of a fringe shot, he may additionally have an effect on spacing on the opposite finish of the court docket.
If he exhibits NBA groups extra versatility than he needed to in faculty, Edey will cross off the primary issues about how his recreation will translate to the affiliation.
