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The “We Grow Basketball Here” slogan is most closely associated with the Indiana Pacers, but based on the NBA Draft prospects from in-state universities? The phrase takes on a literal interpretation. Wednesday’s NBA Draft will feature two massive prospects from the state’s Big Ten schools – Purdue’s 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and Indiana’s 7-foot Kel’El Ware. Their size is their asset – as well as a demerit in the minds of some analysts.

Edey is the two-time National Player of the Year, but the traits that made him so dominant with the national runner-up Boilermakers are some of the things that have fallen out of fashion in the analytically-minded NBA. Traditional paint-dominant centers are considered to be out of fashion in the modern game. Edey did nearly all of his damage for Purdue in the paint as college opponents had no answer for his sheer size as well as the excellent touch he had on his hook shot and post attempts.



It was one reason why Edey returned to Purdue for the 2023-24 season after there was tepid interest in his services in the run-up to the 2023 NBA Draft. However, interest in Edey is higher this time. NBA scouts seemed to have recognized Edey’s obvious rim protection strengths, his dominant rebounding potential and have warmed to his scoring traits too.

After all, analytics rewards high-percentage shots and Edey converted at a 63.1% conversion rate with the Boilermakers. There is also cautious optimism that Edey can diversify his offensive reper.

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