Andrew Pace
Standing at 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m), Zach Edey is a Canadian basketball player who dominated the court for the Purdue Boilermakers. Edey's towering height, combined with his impressive skills, established him as one of the most decorated players in modern college basketball history. With his exceptional stature and talent, Edey led the Purdue Boilermakers to remarkable victories and numerous awards, solidifying his legacy in the world of college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zachry Cheyne Edey |
| Nickname | Zach Edey |
| Date of Birth | May 14, 2002 |
| Place of Birth | Toronto, Canada |
| Parents | Julia and Glen Edey |
| Height | 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) |
| Weight | 300 pounds |
| Position | Center |
| Education | IMG Academy, Florida; Purdue University |
| Current Team | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Draft | 2024 NBA Draft, 9th overall pick |
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What You'll Learn
Zach Edey's height and weight
Zach Edey, a Canadian professional basketball player, stands at a towering height of 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 meters). Listed on the official Purdue roster, this height makes him the tallest player in the history of the Big Ten conference. Edey's stature has undoubtedly contributed to his dominance on the court, allowing him to become one of the most decorated players in modern college basketball history.
Edey's height is not just remarkable in college basketball but also in the NBA. After being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2024, he became the tallest active player in the league. His height, combined with his weight of 300 pounds, makes him one of the biggest players in the NBA. In fact, he ties with the Houston Rockets' Boban Marjanovic and the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama as the tallest players in the league, but he outweighs them both.
During his time at Purdue, Edey's height played a significant role in his success. He broke numerous records, including becoming the second player in Purdue's history to reach 1,000 career rebounds and surpassing 2,000 collegiate career points. Edey's physical stature, combined with his skills, made him a formidable opponent for any player guarding him.
Edey's height has always been one of his most notable attributes, even before he stepped onto the college basketball scene. During his freshman season at Purdue University, he was already listed at 7 feet 4 inches, making him the tallest player in the Big Ten at the time. This height advantage continued into his senior year, where he averaged an impressive 24.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
While Edey's height is undoubtedly impressive, it is just one aspect of his athletic prowess. His skill, talent, and work ethic have also contributed significantly to his success as a basketball player. Edey's dedication to the sport and his impressive statistics have established him as one of the most promising players in both college basketball and the NBA.
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His career at Purdue
Zach Edey is a Canadian basketball player who played college basketball for the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2024. At 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) tall, he is the tallest player in Big Ten history.
Edey moved to the United States to attend IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he played for their second-tier team in his first year and worked with coach and former NBA player Daniel Santiago. In his senior year, he helped IMG win the UnderArmour Rise Championship.
Edey chose to play college basketball for Purdue over offers from other universities, including Baylor and Santa Clara. In his freshman season, he shared playing time with fellow centre Trevion Williams. On March 2, 2021, he recorded a season-high 21 points and seven rebounds off the bench in a 73–69 win over Wisconsin. He averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 14 minutes per game, earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honours.
In his sophomore year, Edey moved into a starting role. On January 3, 2022, he recorded a then-career-high 24 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Wisconsin. On February 26, 2022, he recorded a new career-high of 25 points in a loss to Michigan State. As a sophomore, he averaged career highs in every category except free throw percentage, with averages of 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 19 minutes per game.
During the 2022–23 season, Edey had one of the most statistically dominating seasons in college basketball history. He averaged 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 60.7% from the field and 73.4% from the free throw line. He became the second player in Purdue history to reach 1,000 career points and 100 career blocks. He also received Big Ten Player of the Week six times, tying the school record for most awards in a single season. At the close of the season, he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, Sporting News National Player of the Year, and a consensus first-team All-American. He was also named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year across all men's sports.
On May 31, 2023, Edey announced that he would be returning to Purdue for his senior season instead of entering the 2023 NBA draft. During his senior year, he became the second player in Purdue history to reach 1,000 career rebounds. He also surpassed 2,000 collegiate career points, making him just the sixth player in Big Ten Conference history to achieve this milestone. Edey set several school records, including the most consecutive games scoring in double figures (74) and the most double-doubles (55). He received Big Ten Player of the Week a record 12 times.
Edey finished his college career at Purdue with 2,516 points and 1,321 rebounds, ranking third in Big Ten history in points and second in rebounds. He led the Boilermakers to the NCAA Tournament championship game, where they lost to the Memphis Grizzlies. He was selected by the Grizzlies with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft and signed with them on July 6, 2024.
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Records and awards
Zach Edey, a Canadian professional basketball player, has an impressive list of records and awards to his name. Standing at 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m), he is the tallest player in Big Ten history.
Records
During the 2022-23 season, Edey achieved several milestones. He became the 55th player in Purdue's history to reach 1,000 career points and the 11th to reach 100 career blocks. On March 2, 2021, he recorded 21 points and seven rebounds against Wisconsin. In his sophomore year, he recorded a career-high 25 points in a game against Michigan State. Edey also led his team in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage, becoming the second player and the first since 1964 to do so.
Edey's performance in the 2023-24 season was even more remarkable. On January 5, 2024, he became the second player in Purdue's history to surpass 1,000 career rebounds. Just over three weeks later, on January 28, he scored his 2,000th collegiate career point, making him the sixth player in Big Ten Conference history to achieve this feat. On February 4, 2024, Edey broke two school records in a single game against Wisconsin. He scored in double figures for the 74th consecutive game and surpassed the previous record for double-doubles with his 55th. He also reached 200 career blocks in this game.
Edey currently holds the Purdue career records for rebounds (1,321) and points (2,516). Additionally, he holds the record for most blocks by a rookie in a playoff game in the past 15 years, achieving 7 blocks in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Awards
Edey has been recognised with numerous awards throughout his college basketball career. During the 2022-23 season, he was named Big Ten Player of the Week six times, tying the school record. At the end of the season, he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, Sporting News National Player of the Year, and a consensus first-team All-American. He was also named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year across all men's sports.
In 2024, Edey added to his list of accolades. He was named the Naismith College Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, becoming the first player to win back-to-back since Ralph Sampson in 1982-83. He also repeated as the Big Ten Men's Athlete of the Year. At the end of his collegiate career, Edey was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he signed on July 6, 2024.
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NBA career
Standing at 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) tall, Zach Edey is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft, making him the tallest active NBA player.
Zach Edey made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, for the Memphis Grizzlies, putting up five points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of playing time against the Utah Jazz. Edey broke an unfortunate record by becoming the first player in history since the NBA-ABA merger to foul out in his debut game while playing 15 minutes or fewer. Despite this, the Grizzlies still won the game 126-124.
In his rookie season with the Grizzlies, Edey averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He finished the season as an All-Rookie First Team selection. In the Grizzlies' first-round postseason matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Edey recorded 7 blocks in a series-ending loss, marking the most blocks by a rookie in a playoff game in 15 years.
Edey's impressive performances continued into the 2025 season. On April 5, he grabbed 21 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons, setting a new franchise rookie record and personal career-high. Edey underwent surgery for a sprained left ankle in 2025 and was expected to be re-evaluated after four months.
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Personal life
Zach Edey is a Canadian professional basketball player who was born on May 14, 2002, in Toronto, Canada. He is the son of Julia and Glen Edey. His mother, a first-generation Chinese Canadian, stands at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and played basketball in her youth. His father, Glen, is White. Edey grew up in Toronto's Leaside neighbourhood, where he played baseball and hockey before taking up basketball in his sophomore year of high school.
Edey moved to the United States to attend IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior year of high school. He was part of a talented team that included several Division I recruits. During his time at IMG Academy, he helped lead his team to the UnderArmour Rise Championship. Edey was ranked as one of the top-five players in Canada during his senior season.
After high school, Edey chose to play college basketball for Purdue University, also known as the Purdue Boilermakers. He cited the team's atmosphere and strong history with big men as reasons for his decision. At Purdue, Edey pursued a major in organizational leadership.
During his freshman season at Purdue, Edey stood out for his impressive height, listed at 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m), making him the tallest player in Big Ten history. He quickly made an impact on the court, recording a season-high 21 points and seven rebounds against Wisconsin. In his sophomore year, Edey moved into a starting role and continued to improve, averaging career highs in several categories.
Edey's success continued into his junior year, as he became the 55th player in Purdue history to reach 1,000 career points and the 11th player to reach 100 career blocks. He received numerous accolades, including being named the Big Ten Player of the Year and Sporting News National Player of the Year. At the end of the 2022-23 season, Edey announced that he would return to Purdue for his senior season, opting out of the 2023 NBA draft.
In his senior year, Edey continued to break records and achieve milestones. He became just the second player in Purdue history to reach 1,000 career rebounds and surpassed 2,000 collegiate career points. He set several school records and received numerous honours, including being named Big Ten Player of the Week a record 12 times.
Following his outstanding senior season, Edey declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was selected with the ninth overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. He signed with the Grizzlies and made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024. Edey became the first rookie in NBA history to foul out in 15 minutes or less during his debut game. He finished his rookie season with impressive averages, earning him an All-Rookie First Team selection.
Regarding his personal life, there is no indication that Edey is currently in a relationship. He appears to be focused on his basketball career, dedicating his time and energy to achieving his goals on the court.
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Frequently asked questions
Zach Edey is 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) tall.
Zach Edey weighs 300 pounds.
Zach Edey is a centre for the Purdue Boilermakers.
Zach Edey was born on May 14, 2002.
Zach Edey is of mixed ethnicity. His mother, Julia, is of Chinese and Taiwanese descent, and his father, Glen, is White.
