Zach Edey, the Canadian basketball star, has won his second consecutive Associated Press Player of the Year award, leading Purdue to their first Final Four since 1980.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The child who wanted Zach Edey 's autograph during his Purdue recruiting trip apparently saw something others missed.While many college coaches passed on the unpolished Canadian prospect as the basketball world became enamored with perimeter play and 3-point shooting, Purdue coach Matt Painter took a swing on his third center in the recruiting class and found a gem who led the Boilermakers to their first Final Four since 1980.
“I get to pay him back. There were so many coaches that looked over me, like you could -- name a program — I could name a coach that looked over me,” Edey said. “Tennessee, Rick Barnes is a great coach, but he was at our practice, looked over me. It’s kind of been the story of my life. People have doubted me. People looked past me. Can’t do that anymore.”
Edey outplayed them all, becoming the first national scoring leader to take his team to the Final Four since Oscar Robertson in 1960. “We were fortunate, right? I didn't know he was going to turn into a two-time national player of the year," Painter said. “I did think he would be good, I just didn't know when he would be good. But he had good hands, he had good feet, he just needed repetition and work so right away, I was like 'We're going to throw him the ball when he's open.' He's always open.
Zach Edey Purdue Basketball AP Player Of The Year Final Four
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