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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − Purdue basketball fans waited on pins and needles Wednesday for an announcement from the consensus national player of the year.
Most had been doing so since April 18, when Zach Edey entered his name in the NBA draft, but doing so while maintaining college eligibility, leaving the possibility he’d return for the Boilermakers this season.
With a three-word tweet, Edey put all Purdue fans at ease shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, the final deadline date for draft eligible players to make a decision.
“Run it back,” Edey tweeted with a GIF from the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Edey will return to Purdue, bolstering what is expected to again be one of the nation’s top teams.
With Edey sweeping every postseason award he was eligible for, the only thing left to accomplish comes in the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue has bowed out in the first round twice in Edey’s three seasons, with a trip to the Sweet 16 sandwiched between with Edey as a sophomore splitting post duties with Trevion Williams.
The Boilermakers won the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships last season before losing to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, closing a year where Purdue was 29-6 and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Edey averaged 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and shot 60.7% from the field.
Despite his collegiate success as a junior, Edey was projected as a second-round pick in the NBA draft.
He measured at 7-foot-3¾ with a 7-11 wingspan and weighed 306.4 pounds. But more impressively, Edey showed NBA scouts he’s not limited as a back-to-the-basket center, showcasing his footwork and shooting abilities.
But, the NBA will wait.
It turns out Edey has unfinished business in West Lafayette.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
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