Starting as a high school freshman eight years ago, Zach Edey’s path to basketball stardom has been nothing short of extraordinary.
In a meteoric rise that followed his decision to trade his hockey stick and fastball for a basketball, an overlooked recruit ranked 436th in the 2020 class, Edey has emerged as a Canadian basketball legend.
Now, four years later, he stands atop Canadian college basketball history, etching his name in the record books by dethroning Marcus Carr, the previous holder of the record with 2,350 points. Edey is now the country’s all-time leading NCAA basketball scorer.
Driven by the sting of the Boilermakers’ shocking first-round NCAA Tournament upset the previous season, and motivated by a burning desire to conquer the national stage and silence his doubters, Edey entered his senior year with a respectable 1,533 points in 99 games.
At the outset of the season, Carr’s seemingly insurmountable 817-point lead cast a long shadow of doubt, even for the reigning National Player of the Year. However, he then embarked on a redemption-inspired dominant run to become the first Canadian to lead the nation in scoring at 24.7 points per game.
Edey now stands on the threshold of history. He is all but assured to become just the third player ever to win back-to-back National Player of the Year awards, and the second to do so unanimously, joining Bill Walton in this exclusive club.
Following a stellar regular season and conference championship run, he solidified his position as Purdue’s all-time leading scorer, eclipsing Rick Mount’s iconic 2,323-point mark and claiming the top spot in the program’s record books.
On the cusp of this historic milestone and needing only twelve points to claim the coveted Canadian scoring crown, Edey delivered in a big way.
Facing Grambling State in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, he dominated the paint with thunderous dunks and relentless rebounding.
With 12:25 remaining in the first half, his dedication culminated in a historic moment. Battling for position, Edey received the ball, shook off a double team with a crafty ball fake, and unleashed his signature soft right-hook. The shot found the bottom of the net, not only propelling him past Carr as Canada’s undisputed scoring leader, but also further solidifying his place in NCAA basketball history.
Zach Edey 30 points, 21 rebounds sets Canadian All-time NCAA scoring record
He poured in 30 points, grabbed a season-high 21 rebounds, twelve of them on the offensive side and swatted away three blocks, while shooting an impressive 11-of-17 from the field and 8-of-14 from the free-throw line in just 31 minutes.
This effort also marked him as the first player since 1995 to record a 30-point, 20-rebound double-double in an NCAA Tournament game.
Surpassing Carr’s tally of 2,350 points amassed across 164 games and five seasons of college basketball, Edey’s remarkable career total now stands at 2,369 points in 133 games and 3,253 minutes. Even more impressive, he accomplished this feat in a more efficient manner, averaging 0.73 points per minute compared to Carr’s 0.43 points per minute.
Top 10 all-time Canadian NCAA men’s scoring leaders (Subscribers Only)
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Edey’s achievement ascends him to the pinnacle of Canadian college basketball. He enters an elite fraternity of only six players to surpass 2,000 points in their careers. But it’s Edey’s efficiency that truly sets him apart. While logging significantly fewer minutes, his scoring eliteness is undeniable.
On his path to becoming Canada’s top scorer, Edey registered a staggering 17 career games with 30+ points, shattering the previous record held by Bob Houbregs, who had 12 such games during his illustrious 1952-53 season.
Edey’s current tally of 836 points in 34 games puts him in elite company as just the third Canadian player to score over 800 points in a single season. He joins the ranks of RJ Barrett (860 points) and Houbregs (846 points).
Furthermore, Edey (24.5 points per game) is poised to surpass Houbregs’ long-standing all-time points per game record of 25.6, further solidifying his place in NCAA basketball history.
This rise is truly remarkable. With his dedication and raw talent, Edey has transformed from a late-blooming prospect into Canada’s all-time greatest NCAA player with a long list of records that should stand the time.
