Purdue star Zach Edey is entering the 2024 NBA Draft after winning back-to-back National Player of the Year awards.

Edey told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony he has filed the paperwork with the league office to become draft-eligible.

“I felt like it was time,” Edey said. “I showed that I’m a physical presence on offense this season. I also showed I can play defense. I can guard in space, even defend guards.”

Projections for Edey have been all over the place, though it seems like his stellar 2023-24 season has solidified him as a first-round prospect.

B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman projected Edey to be the No. 23 pick to the Phoenix Suns in his most recent mock draft published on Monday.

The fit for Edey on the Heat seems awkward simply because they already have Bam Adebayo.

Edey doesn’t necessarily have to step in as a starter right away, but he could also be used to plug the paint since Adebayo has improved his ability to play away from the basket. Adebayo isn’t a shooting wizard, but he did set career-highs in three-point percentage (35.7) and attempts per game (0.6) this season.

The Suns are an obvious fit for a player like Edey because they don’t have much size on the inside beyond Jusuf Nurkić, who will be entering the final season of his contract in 2024-25. Drew Eubanks, who will be a free agent this summer, is their backup center right now.

Edey would have had a fifth year of eligibility stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic to use if he wanted to return to Purdue.

Instead, the 21-year-old will capitalize on his outstanding season and four-year college career to start his professional career. He’s the first player to win the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year in consecutive years since Ralph Sampson did it in three straight seasons from 1981 to ’83.

Edey averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in 39 starts this season. He helped the Boilermakers set a single-season record for wins (34) and reach the national title game for the first time since the 1968-69 season.