Purdue Boilermakers’ Zach Edey on Why He’s Absolutely Ready for the 2024 NBA Draft: ‘I Felt Like It Was Time’

Listed at 7’4″ and 300 pounds, Zach Edey has been a dominant force in college basketball and was named the Consensus National Player of the Year for the second year in a row. He recently declared for the 2024 NBA Draft because he believes that it is now the right time to take the next step in his basketball career.

“I felt like it was time. I showed that I’m a physical presence on offense this season. I also showed I can play defense. I can guard in space, even defend guards,” Zach Edey said to ESPN’s Jonathon Givony. 

Zach Edey believes he has more to offer when he is in the NBA

While Zach Edey has already achieved a lot in his basketball career at age 21, the Purdue Boilermakers star said that he is just getting started.

Many scouts nitpicked him for his lack of outside shooting, an essential skill in today’s NBA, but Zach Edey said that he has already started working on it.

“What wins in college and the NBA is totally different. There are a lot of things I can do that people haven’t seen yet,” explained Edey. “I’m still learning the game. I’m going to keep expanding my game and do things people haven’t seen from me.”

“Shooting is going to be a big thing in my workouts during the pre-draft process. Every day I’m getting the reps and my routine right to show off that part of my game,” he added.

Zach Edey has already solidified himself as a lottery pick, albeit in the later stage of the first round, according to USA Today.