Purdue's Zach Edey honored with second consecutive Wooden Award

Field Level Media|published: 04/10/2024, 8:13pm EDT

Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) attempts a shot during the Men's NCAA national championship game against the Connecticut Huskies at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on April 8, 2024. credits: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Purdue star center Zach Edey's sweep of national honors continued Wednesday when he was selected the John R. Wooden Award winner as the best men's college basketball player.

He's the second two-time winner of the Wooden Award, as Virginia center Ralph Sampson won in 1982 and ‘83.

The senior from Toronto, Canada, already had won back-to-back honors with the Nasmith and Associated Press men's player of the year awards.

The 7-foot-4 Edey played even bigger this season, leading the Boilermakers in scoring average (25.2), rebounding (12.2), blocks (2.2) and field-goal percentage (62.3).

They advanced to the national championship game on Monday, falling to UConn 75-60. Edey accounted for 37 of Purdue's points along with 10 of its 28 rebounds.

Voting took place March 18-25, until just after the first week of the NCAA Tournament, when Edey averaged 29.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in six games.

The other Wooden finalists were North Carolina's RJ Davis, Tennessee's Dalton Knecht, UConn's Tristen Newton and Houston's Jamal Shead.

Edey and women's basketball player of the year Caitlin Clark of Iowa will receive their trophies on Friday in Los Angeles.

The Wooden Award has been presented annually since 1977.

—Field Level Media