This week, dozens of amateur basketball players from around the world will realize their dream of finally making it to the NBA. It is a dream that has been years in the making and each young man who is drafted will do so as a culmination of hard work and dedication.
Although many players left the collegiate ranks early in order to declare their eligibility for the NBA draft, several potential first-round picks decided that now was not the time to enter the professional ranks. Surprisingly, one such player was Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers. Having been named the National Player of the Year just a few short months ago, Edey would have certainly been taken in the first round and most likely would have been a lottery pick in this year’s draft.
Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers was named the 2023 National College Player of the Year. Next year, he could do it again.
However, all things considered, coming back to school for his senior year is not a bad decision. Edey is a player whose size and skills all but guarantee a successful NBA career whenever he eventually becomes a professional; delaying that process for one more season does not negate the inevitable. Of course, there will be detractors who say he has nothing left to prove in college, but those naysayers are overlooking several key factors.
Zach Edey was a dominant force for a Purdue team that had a great regular season, followed by a stunning first-round exit from last year’s NCAA Tournament. He recently informed the basketball world that he is coming back to campus for his senior season. Let’s take a closer look at why his choice to come back to school was the right decision.