WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — He makes it look easy.
At 7 feet, 4 inches, Purdue's Zach Edey is a very special talent. He's ready to lead the third-ranked Boilermakers into a crucial season and said the motivation factor is a little higher this year.
"Yeah, for sure," Edey said. "I think we have a lot of guys who are just kind of internally motivated, just in general. And the way that our season ended last year lights a little fire under some guys."
Edey won virtually every award there was to win last season, including National Player of the Year. He could have gone on to the NBA. We asked him about his choice to return for one more run at Purdue.
"I mean, it was a really rough decision for me. I really took my time deciding on it," Edey said. "But in the day, I just wanted to do what would make me most happy. That was Purdue, you know? It's kinda ... I was in that process. Debating, debating, debating. Hopped on and called my mom. Hopped on and called my agent. They kinda said, like, 'What's gonna make you happiest?' and Purdue was the no-doubt answer for that."
"I think the NBA is what I want to do, my future, it's what I obviously would be very blessed to do that for a long time, but Purdue, the way they've embraced me, I could come back for a campus that loves me, for teammates that I love, that love me. Coaching staff that loves me, like, and then compete for every championship there is in the country, it's a pretty tough deal to turn down," Edey said.
We asked Edey what it's like being on campus this season.
"Not much hiding, for sure," Edey said. "Kinda, when I go out, you know, I'll see people kind of looking at me, ask for photos. You gotta sign stuff, it's just fun to kind of see the support that I get."
Edey said it would mean a lot to him for this team to bring another banner to Purdue.
"Just immortalize myself at this campus. Purdue has had a history of really, really great players and then to be able to kind of say, 'I did that' for basically the first time at Purdue would be really big-time for me," Edey said.
Purdue's road to a national title got underway Monday at Mackey Arena with a 98-45 win against Samford.