Purdue’s star center, Zach Edey, will not return to college next season, Boilermakers coach Matt Painter told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link).
Edey could have stayed for one more season due to the extra year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The big man is averaging 23.7 points and 11.8 rebounds and might win National Player of the Year honors for the second straight season.
Edey tested the draft waters last summer before deciding to stay in school. He’s currently listed as the No. 13 overall prospect on ESPN’s Best Available list.
We have more news from around the basketball world:
- While there’s still plenty of mystery about this year’s draft class, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has already posted a 2025 mock draft with big man Cooper Flagg, who has committed to Duke, as the No. 1 selection. The No. 39 projected pick is an eyebrow raiser: Bronny James. Givony explained on NBA Today (video link) that Bronny “has not produced like a one-and-done player” at USC. Givony adds that LeBron James‘ son could be a “completely different player” if he returns to college next season.
- Major League Baseball experimented with its All-Star Game, giving the winning league home field advantage in the World Series. Jalen Brunson suggested a similar solution on his podcast to make the NBA’s All-Star Game more competitive (hat tip to Geoff Magliocchetti of Sports Illustated). “I don’t know if baseball does it anymore, but the winner of the All-Star Game (could get) home-court advantage in the Finals,” he said. “That’s cool. I think that’s one way that could at least make it interesting in the fourth quarter.”
- EuroLeague championships to be decided in Dubai? It could happen. Abu Dhabi is reportedly offering 75MM to host three editions of the EuroLeague Final Four, according to Sportando. Negotiations are reportedly in the advanced stages.
- Cedrick Hordges has passed away, NBA Alumni tweets. He played 145 games for the Nuggets from 1980-82 before continuing his pro career in Europe for another 13 seasons.
If you have a 2024 1st round pick ….. Just dump it!
Givony knows how bad of a look it was for him to have Bronny in the Top 10 for 2024. It was silly. He became part of LeBron’s marketing team for Bronny, and is taking a hit to his reputation for it.
He went from a Top 10 draft evaluation all the way to #37 in 2025. That is a pretty massive slide. A year of developing in college still drops his evaluation to 2nd round. Still too high.
Zach Edey is the #13 overall prospect in the draft????? Yikes!
I will agree that the current American system of identifying and developing basketball talent is not working. Never has there been more money to be made. Never has there been more basketball “trainers” training kids from 9 years old on up ……. Yet the talent level continues to decline.
Kentucky has underperformed most of the year. Yet Rob Dillingham and Reed Shepherd have elevated their stock into the Top 10?? On a team with Dajuan Wagner and at least other 1st round pick?? Yet they struggle against college teams.
Kyle Fillipowski, a 7’0 center only, who isn’t a post scorer, and vastly improved this year to be a 34% college line 3pt shooter. Yikes! He also has no shot at guarding ANYBODY in the league. He is also in the top 10. Yikes!
Isaiah Collier from USC started the year as the #1 overall pick, and has now slid to a point where he is struggling to hold a lottery spot.
This is the “talent” that the USA is producing right now. Not Kobe. Not Jordan. Not Iverson. This is what we are producing.
Tyrese haliburton, anthony edwards, ja morant, karl anthony towns and many others say hi. Iversons and kobe are some of the most overrated players of all time. Stop with your nonsense. College has never been a good basketball product and it never will be.
Zach Edey was considered the top player in college last year. He tested the NBA waters, and couldn’t get a team to give him a Two-Way contract with a guarantee to actual play in NBA games. Fast forward to a year later …. Nothing has changed with his game. Center only. Does not protect the rim. Does not shoot the 3.
Adam Silver is correct to be absolutely alarmed at the lack of talent coming down the pipe.
The NCAA is a joke… Doesn’t prepare these kids for the NBA… A lot of these kids have to unlearn what they learned at college…
^^^this
So true. The same with other professions as well after college.
The All Star game needs something to make the players play hard for…
But home court advantage in the finals would dilute the regular season further…
Why bother winning the most games and being the dominant team, especially in the weaker east where the top teams are able to rest and not lose a top 3 spot in the ranking…
Edey needs to lean out. He’s too heavy and that’s slowing him down. Id say he should lose 40 lbs.
How about USA vs international team
International would be stacked. I like it.
Yeah, US team with Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Jason Tatum, Devin Booker, Dame, Jalen Brunson, The Brow, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Edwards, KAT, Kawaii, Haliburton, Foxx, D. White, Jrue H. etc, etc, etc …
The problem with a US team is that there is not enough spots…
Zach Edey to be the next Luka Garza/Vernon Carey Jr.
Just too big and too strong for college ball, you put up incredible numbers and get good results but when you make the jump from kids to men’s you are no longer the most dominant guy.
Unless he wants to put on 60lb of muscle and be the next Shaq which is simply wont happen especially that style of play in todays game.
Edey should carve out a great g league career or do fanatic overseas but I wouldn’t waste a first round draft pick on him
Edey not making the league. Can he even defend a pick and roll?
I don’t know maybe he can try to contact Brook Lopez and see if he can learn from him. Brook was more skilled coming in but he developed a lot each year.
Edey seems like a big for nothing though.
Baseball does not do it anymore because it was a dumb idea. They have no more incentive tied in the AS game. It will never be fixed in any sport so just move on from trying to. You either watch it or you don’t.
MLB the home field actually mattered because each ballpark is different. Who cares in the NBA.
Agreed, all star games are all pathetic, all star all nba all pro, how many lists do these guys really need?
Who cares? The stats care. Historically speaking, home field advantage has been a bigger factor in the NBA than in MLB, although that advantage has been less prominent in recent seasons iirc. So it’s still something to shoot for, although I wouldn’t pursue it at all costs.
Bronny James would not be in any mock draft if it weren’t for his last name, anyone who says different is blinded by love, Bronny might go back and become a different player for sure but he needs to go back, hope he’s smart enough to do what’s best for him and not chase being on the same team as his Dad
Edey isnt any good and James doesn’t belong in the NBA.
Would Israeli teams and players be allowed to compete in EuroLeague championships if the finals were held in Dubai? Because they currently aren’t even allowed into the country under regular circumstances.
Also aau is the worst thing to play in before college. The focus is on dunks and highlights. Not 3s passing and drives.
Collier is future starting PG. He’s been banged up and takes time to adjust to next level. No one here believed Edwards was best player in his draft either. It’s called positional size. This kind of size develops. Then you have potential major talent here. Do not push him aside. Attitude and commitment are things we can’t measure. It’s why Lonzo has never fulfilled his potential. Collier will move up by draft time. Should go top 10 easy. Like him a lot.
There might not be superstars in this draft. There is starting team material here. 19 yr olds develop differently. Plenty talent in first rd.
Edey looks slow. Good he lost the weight. But he needs weight training and speed drills. Needs to be more aggressive. Too soft at times. He should get a personal trainer. He’s got good size and soft hands for a true center. Got potential but needs to work for next level.