NBA Draft: Purdue, Zach Edey Fall in Big Ten Semifinal
On Saturday, Wisconsin achieved the near-impossible, handing No. 3 Purdue just its fourth loss of the season in the Big Ten semifinals.
It came down to the wire, with Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit sinking a jumper with just eight seconds left in overtime to push the Badgers past, 76-75.
Zach Edey — a 7-foot-4 phenom and former National Player of the year — played to his typical production, offering up 28 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Overall, he shot 7-for-11 from the field, hitting on a whopping 14 of 19 free throw attempts.
Edey has long been a polarizing draft prospect, offering a traditional center skillset that's maximized in the college game.
To this point, there’s likely not much Edey can do to raise his NBA Draft stock. Near-every organization has likely gotten their deciding tape on Edey: he’s a dominant collegiate paint force on both ends of the court, but has a few issues in the ways of foot speed, general mobility and shooting.
Still, all it will take is one NBA team to value him as a potential bench anchor to swing on him.
Right now, his stock ranges anywhere from a late first selection to a mid-second.
While he won't be looking to earn favor in the eyes of the NBA at the upcoming NCAA Tournament, it's sure to be must-see TV with him anchoring the paint for the Boilermakers.
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