Purdue Star Zach Edey Makes History As Back-to-Back Winner of Men's Wooden Award

Madison Williams | Apr 10, 2024

Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) and Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan (32) fight for the ball. / Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY

Purdue's Zach Edey was named the recipient of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award on Wednesday, taking home the honor for the second straight year and becoming the first unanimous back-to-back winner in over 50 years.

Edey led the Boilermakers to a 34–5 record and an appearance in the NCAA tournament national title game on Monday against UConn. That marked Edey's final collegiate basketball game as he declared for the NBA draft, which begins on June 26. He is expected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick.

In his senior season, Edey averaged 25.0 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 37 games.

🧹 The Back-to-Back NPOY Sweep. @zach_edey is the @WoodenAward winner.

The first back-to-back unanimous NPOY in over 50 years! pic.twitter.com/BEojRZUUii

— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) April 10, 2024

The 7'4" center also was named the AP Player of the Year for the second consecutive season last week. He is the first men's college basketball player since Virginia's Ralph Sampson during the 1980s to win these two awards in back-to-back seasons.