Look out, Memphis Grizzlies! You’ve just signed a Leaside powerhouse. From M4G to 38103, Zach Edey has leaped, jumped, and scored through several postal and zip codes to end up where he is today – in the BIG leagues.
The 22-year-old Leasider began playing house league basketball in Grade 10 at the relatively late age of 16, but within just six months was a member of Canada’s U17 national squad. His rapid climb up the basketball ladder had only just begun.
Recruited to play his final two years of high school basketball at IMG Academy in Florida, Edey soon had multiple offers to play D1 college ball, ultimately choosing to continue his journey with Purdue University in Indiana.
To say that his college basketball career was outstanding would be like saying Leaside never faces traffic issues. Or that Edey is just… tall, at 7’4”. He quickly silenced critics who proclaimed at the outset of his career that his talent lay solely in his height.
Edey’s college basketball accomplishments include leading his team, the Purdue Boilermakers, to the NCAA championship this past spring.
Additionally, he was named National College Player of the Year in his last two years of play becoming the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons in over 40 years. Edey was also named the Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year in those seasons, the league’s leading scorer in his last year, and smashed several Purdue and league records along the way. And on June 26th, Edey’s hard work and dominant play led to his being drafted ninth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA – an incredible feat to break into the top 10.
NBA players who have been drafted in the same position over the years include such superstars as DeMar DeRozan, Dirk Nowitzki, Amar’e Stoudemire, Andre Iguodala and Tracy McGrady.
With Edey’s commitment to improving his game, there’s no question that he too will be a household name in no time. Best of all, he’s our hometown hero.
Enter to win One of two XL Zach Edey Memphis Grizzlies official #14 jerseys!
One winner will be selected by random ballot to a reader who emails us their name and telephone number to and answers this skill-testing question: How tall is Zach Edey?
To win the second jersey, like or follow us on Facebook or Instagram and “like” the contest post by the deadline of 11:59pm, August 30, 2024.
Note: winner must be able to pick up in person in Leaside, Ontario, Canada.
Readers can enter both the email and social contests for 2 chances to win. The winners will be drawn and notified on August 31st, 2024. For full contest rules and eligibility visit leasidelife.com/contests.
