Purdue's Zach Edey Named 2024 AP Men's CBB Player of the Year; Also Won Award in 2023

Purdue center Zach Edey has successfully defended one of his national player of the year awards.

Edey was named the Associated Press Player of the Year on Friday for the second straight season, becoming the first award winner to repeat since UVA's Ralph Sampson claimed his third straight in 1983, according to the AP.

Edey received 57 of 62 possible votes for the award.

The other votes went to Tennessee's Dalton Knecht (three) and Houston's Jamal Shead (two).

The 7'4'' center averaged 25.0 points per game this season on his way to the Final Four with Purdue.

Edey is the fifth player to win consecutive player of the year awards, and the sixth to win the honor twice, according to the AP.

He is also the first player to both lead the NCAA in scoring and make it the Final Four since 1960, the AP reported.

"It's an honor to receive this, join that elite club of people," Edey told reporters after receiving the award. "This has been a heck of a season, for not just me but my team. I'm so proud of everything we've accomplished up to this point. Obviously, we still have more games left to play."

Edey referenced doubts following the Boilermakers after the team's historic loss to a No. 16 seed in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament.

"With the amount of stuff that we've gone through, the amount of stuff that we've heard, to be able to bounce back and the accomplishments we've had up to this point, this has been my favorite year I've ever lived in," Edey said.

The center has been instrumental in leading the Boilermakers on their deepest playoff run since 2019. He recorded a double-double in each of Purdue's four tournament wins, mostly recently recording 40 points and 16 rebounds on March 31 in an Elite Eight victory over Tennessee.

All eyes will be on Edey as Purdue takes on No. 11 NC State Saturday with the chance to earn a trip to the NCAA tournament title game for the first time since 1969.