Purdue's Zach Edey Wins AP National Player of the Year in Landslide

For the second straight season, Purdue's Zach Edey has been named the National Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He won the award in a landslide, with Tennessee's Dalton Knecht and Houston's Jamal Shead the only other two receiving votes.

Purdue center Zach Edey dunks against Tennessee during the first half of the NCAA tournament Midwest / Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

Purdue center Zach Edey has been named the Associated Press National Player of the Year for a second consecutive season. The superstar won the award in a landslide, too.

Per Sam King of the Journal-Courier, Edey received 57 votes for the award. Tennessee's Dalton Knecht received three votes and Houston's Jamal Shead received two.

This season, Edey is averaging 25 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists per game for the Boilermakers. He's been the most dominant player in college basketball and is one of the all-time greats in the history of Purdue's program.

Edey currently owns the record for points and rebounds at Purdue. He broke Joe Barry Carroll's rebound record and surpassed Rick Mount as the program's all-time leading scorer. He recorded 28 double-doubles during the 2023-24 campaign.

Edey's numbers during the season were impressive, but he's been even more dominant during the NCAA Tournament. In four games, he's averaging 30 points and 16.3 rebounds per contest. He's led the Boilers to their first Final Four appearance since 1980.

The most impressive performance from the 7-foot-4 center came in Purdue's Elite Eight game against Tennessee last Sunday. Edey scored 40 points and secured 16 rebounds, leading the Boilermakers to a 72-66 victory to win the Midwest Regional and advance to the Final Four.

Edey is now a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and two-time AP National Player of the Year. He's the first player to win the national honor in back-to-back years since Virginia's Ralph Sampson (1981-83).

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