Canadians are making a splash in March Madness this year. Toronto native, Zach Edey, is one of the leading Canadian college basketball players making waves in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) this year. Measuring almost seven and a half feet tall and weighing 305 pounds, Edey is hard to miss.
But Edey isn’t turning heads just because of his size. On Tuesday, his skills on the court earned Edey the first-team AP All-American player title. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he helped his team, the Purdue Boilermakers, win the Big Ten Tournament championship.
Now, Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers are heading into March Madness as the No. 1 seed, putting the team in a position to win the tournament.
However, Edey’s journey to the top wasn’t easy. Edey was born to Julia and Glen Edey in Toronto, Ontario, on May 14, 2002. When it comes to Edey, the apple did not fall far from the tree.
Edey got his height from his mother, Julia, who is 6-foot-3 inches. But his top-tier athleticism came from both his parents. Julia grew up playing basketball, and his father Glen played ice hockey and baseball, which Edey also enjoyed growing up.
Unfortunately, baseball wasn’t for Edey. By 10th grade, he had to put down his baseball glove and bat. His height made his strike zone huge, giving pitchers a better chance to strike him out. Pitching was hard on Edey’s elbows.
But Edey’s height didn’t just impact sports. As a kid, his size would make him feel different from his peers. It made him feel like an outcast.
“As a teenager, you’re already a little insecure…For me, to almost know that a lot of people are just talking about me, especially when I walk by strangers, it was really, really hard on me,” Edey told The Ringer.
However, Edey wouldn’t let his height own him. Instead, he pushed forward and learned to own his height.
Edey’s passion for basketball began at Leaside High School in Toronto, where he played for the Northern Kings Amateur Athletic Union program.
It wasn’t long before Edey was scouted and offered a spot at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. But his time at IMG Academy wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
Edey’s size made him a target. Most people looked at him and thought he was only successful because of his height. But no matter what, Edey kept his head up.
That’s not to say it didn’t piss Edey off. However, Edey harnessed this anger and used it to his advantage. It got his blood pumping and fueled his desire to crush his opponents on the court. Not literally, thankfully.
“I play better when I’m pissed off,” said Edey.
With his sights set on the top, Edey went from being ranked No. 436 in his high school class to being promoted to IMG Academy’s national team.
After receiving college basketball offers from Baylor, Santa Clara, and Purdue, Edey decided his future was with Indiana-based Purdue University.
Edey has been playing for the school’s college basketball team, the Purdue Boilermakers, since he enrolled in 2020. But Edey wasn’t just joining a team; he was joining a family.
The Purdue Boilermakers’ coach Matt Painter and assistant coach Brandon Brantley have gotten to know Edey inside and out over the years.
“He’s got to be the most athletic 7-foot-4, 300-pound guy in the country… Not very many people at that size can run the way he can and move,” said Painter.
However, Edey wasn’t always the superstar basketball player he is today. Believe it or not, when he first arrived at Purdue, there was plenty of room for improvement.
Edey fouled too much and struggled with passing. While his skills at the time may not have been up to snuff for Purdue’s standards, his dedication blew his coaches away.
Edey would spend hours working on his shortcomings after practice, whether shooting or watching films with coach Brantley. Edey wouldn’t be where he is today if he didn’t put in the work.
So, what’s next for Edey? Easy. Bring home the win for the Purdue Boilermakers during this year’s March Madness tournament. Win the Naismith award for the college basketball player of the year.
It’s great to see a fellow Canadian dominating down south. Good luck in your 1st round game against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday.
