Purdue center Zach Edey was named the men’s 2023 John R. Wooden Award on Tuesday night.
The prestigious award, given to the "best college basketball player in the country,” was bestowed upon the Boilermakers big man who beat out a group of finalists that included Drew Timme (Gonzaga), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana), Jalen Wilson (Kansas) and Marcus Sasser (Houston).
The powerful frontline talent averaged 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game this past season. His presence on the defensive end (2.1 blocks per contest) was also a major factor in the team winning the Big Ten conference tournament en route to leading a No. 1 seed berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Zach Edey is the winner of the 2023 John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year Presented By Wendy’s #woodenworthy pic.twitter.com/ddFher3kb3
— John R. Wooden Award (@WoodenAward) April 4, 2023
🧹 🧹🧹 6-FOR-6… A CLEAN SWEEP!
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) April 4, 2023
With the @WoodenAward announced today, @zach_edey has won ALL SIX National Player of the Year honors! pic.twitter.com/fCAoVEfdaI
Edey’s supreme production could not prevent the Boilermakers’ from suffering a shocking upset loss to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson in the round of 64. The dominant junior talent poured in 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a losing effort.
Arguably the best center on the collegiate gridiron, the 7-foot-4 Edey earned nearly every distinguished national award—most notably also taking him the Naismith Trophy, the Oscar Robertson Trophy as well as Associated Press Player of the Year honors.
