Who is Zach Edey? Why is the 7’4” Purdue Boilermakers drawing acknowledgment from coaches around NCAA? All you need to know

It doesn't take long to find Purdue Boilermakers big man Zach Edey on the basketball court. The problem for opposing defenses is figuring out how to stop the hardwood giant.

Listed at 7-foot-4, 295 pounds, Edey is an absolute force on the floor. The junior, who is a national player of the year candidate, started to show signs of upside last season.

During his sophomore campaign, Edey averaged 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. The Canadian was an honorable mention All-American and second-team All-Big Ten last season, shooting a Big Ten-leading 64.8%. The talented big man decided to return for his junior season, and he's taken his game to another level this year.

Accordingly, plenty of opposing coaches have praised Edey's ability.

"He's a hard guy to prepare for because there's nobody else like him," Duke Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer said.

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Purdue Boilermakers big man Zach Edey off to strong start in 2022-23

Purdue Boilermakers big man Zach Edey vs Hofstra

Purdue Boilermakers junior Zach Edey continues to be the talk of the college basketball world. Edey has been one of the most physically imposing players in the NCAA this year.

Named to the All-Big Ten preseason team as a unanimous selection, Edey is off to a great start this season. Through his first 10 games, Edey is averaging 22.0 ppg, 13.7 rpg and 2.3 bpg. He is shooting 61.3% from the field and an impressive 71.2% from the free-throw line.

It's a huge bump in production for the talented big man. While Edey is an imposing figure at 7-foot-4, he's also extremely skilled for his size. Edey has soft hands around the basket and can use his footwork to create ideal positioning.

Edey, who finished high school at powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida, was named to the Canadian national team in the summer. He was on the Big Ten's All-Freshman team.

His play this season has been a big reason why Purdue (10-0) is ranked No. 1 in the country, already with wins over two ranked teams: Gonzaga and Duke last month. Their next challenge will be going up against Davidson on Saturday. If Edey can continue to play at this type of level, he's going to intrigue NBA personnel.

Scouts were already fascinated by his combination of size and touch last season. With his improved play and production on the court so far this year, that intrigue is only going to get stronger.