Why Zach Edey, the first Canadian to ever be NCAA’s top player, is staying in school

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The big man on campus — literally — is staying put for another year.

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Zach Edey, the 7-foot-4 centre who just made history by becoming the first Canadian to ever be named NCAA player of the year, is sticking around at Purdue.

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Edey wrote on social media: “RUN IT BACK” on Wednesday night when a decision was due on his future by the NCAA.

Edey took home the Wooden Award, Naismith Award, Associated Press Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy, NABC Player of the Year and Sporting News Player of the Year honours after a spectacular season which saw him average 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots — the third campaign in a row where he raised his averages in each of those categories.

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Whereas a decade or two ago it would be a slam dunk for the top college player to head to the NBA as soon as possible, the Toronto native is sticking around in West Lafayette, Ind., for a number of valid reasons.

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For one, NCAA stars can now get paid a significant amount of money.

The addition of NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) compensation in recent years has made it easier for some players to return to their teams. It’s expected that Edey will make more than $1 million US in NIL as he bids to become the first player to ever repeat as the Wooden Award winner.

Staying doesn’t make sense financially for sure-fire first-round selections because they get guaranteed contracts, but most second-round picks can’t say the same. Edey is projected to go somewhere between picks 30-60.

While Aurora, Ont., native Andrew Nembhard garnered a contract worth more than $6=million guaranteed from the Indiana Pacers after going 31st last year, that was a record for a second-round pick and most players in that range have to scratch and claw for years to establish themselves and get multiple-season guarantees.

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Edey, 21, can try again next year in a draft that is considered far weaker than this year’s crop and he can also play again for Team Canada, this time at the FIBA World Cup in Asia this summer, without worrying about contractual matters or the wishes of an NBA team.

Plus, Purdue is coming off one of the biggest upset losses in history — the No. 1 seed fell to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA tournament, only the second No. 1 to go out so early. Edey likely didn’t want the lasting image of his fantastic college career to be him holding his head in stunned disbelief after a game where his teammates shockingly mostly avoided giving the ball to him and paid the price.

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The Big Ten champs will be considered contenders again, though going 29-6 again might be a stretch.

Edey’s former Purdue teammate, Detroit Pistons star guard Jaden Ivey likely won’t be surprised by Edey’s decision. When Postmedia asked Ivey about Edey when the Pistons took on the Raptors in March, the intent was to get a sense of Ivey’s take on how Edey would fit in the NBA. Ivey immediately pointed out Edey also had the option of sticking with the Boilermakers.

And that’s what came to pass.

Another potential Canadian second-round pick, Toronto’s Emmanuel Miller, who plays for TCU, also decided to stay in school. Miller’s younger brother, Leonard, is shooting up draft boards and has a shot of going in the late-lottery.