Zach Edey And Dalton Knecht Showcase NBA Potential In Elite Eight Battle

Both star players added to their draft stock on Sunday.

Purdue center Zach Edey (15) blocks a shot attempt by Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) and stops / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA

First and foremost, the sports world regards Zach Edey and Dalton Knecht as two of college basketball’s very best. Edey is the de facto top guy in the NCAA. With two seasons as the nation’s best, Edey has established himself as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history. Knecht burst into stardom this season, capturing the SEC Player Of The Year award. 

However, in due time, the focus on both of these players will be regarding their potential as NBA players. Both the 21-year-old Edey and the 22-year-old Knecht are projected first-round picks, with the upside to go off the board potentially within the lottery.

Regardless, they both added to their draft stock when they went to battle on Sunday.

On the winning side, Edey scored a career-high 40 points on 13-for-21 shooting from the field and 14-for-22 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 16 rebounds and recorded a single assist, steal, and block. The 7-foot-4 Canadian displayed a lot of the skills that will allow him to find success in the NBA. While he likely won’t be a high-volume post-up offensive hub in the league, his interior scoring skills are still extremely relevant in terms of how he can thrive as a play finisher, roller, and punish smaller lineups. Additionally, his offensive rebounding ability is a true asset, he grabbed five of them in the Elite Eight. 

On the losing side, Knecht scored 37 points while nailing half of his 12 tries from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-6, he’s far more than just a sharpshooter. Knecht also has a creative handle, a solid frame, and the pull-up versatility to be a good all-around scorer. His transition finishing also nets him a good amount of buckets. As a complimentary scorer, Knecht has the skills to thrive in the NBA.

Purdue won this game by a final score of 72 to 66, but on both sides, the star player significantly added to their draft stock on the big stage.

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