GLENDALE, Ariz. (USBWA) – Purdue center Zach Edey maintained his dominance in the paint and over all opponents again this season, leading the nation in scoring at 24.6 points per game and listing second in rebounding average at 12.1. Those marks that helped lead the Boilermakers (33-4) to the Big Ten regular season title and eventually their first Final Four since 1980 earned Edey a repeat honor as the 2023-24 Oscar Robertson Trophy winner as the USBWA National Player of the Year.
Edey is the seventh player overall to earn multiple Oscar Robertson Trophies and only the second repeat winner of the last 42 seasons, joining Virginia’s Ralph Sampson, who won it in the three consectuive years (1981-83) following Purdue’s last Final Four appearance (1980). Coincidently, Edey is the first player to lead the country in scoring and reach a Final Four since Oscar Robertson in 1960.
The announcement came today at a press conference at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., site of the men’s Final Four. Edey will formally receive the iconic trophy at the upcoming USBWA College Basketball Awards Banquet on April 17 in St. Louis hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club along with the Henry Iba Award winner, Kelvin Sampson of Houston, and Wayman Tisdale Award winner Reed Sheppard of Kentucky as the National Freshman Player of the Year. The winners of the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, the Tamika Catchings Award, USC’s JuJu Watson, and the USBWA Women’s National Coach of Year, South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, will be presented there as well.
A 7-4 center from Toronto, Ontario, Edey is now a two-time first-team All-America selection by the USBWA after garnering first-team honors last year as well. He is the second Purdue player to win the Oscar Robertson Trophy along with Glenn Robinson (1993-94) and gives the Big Ten three of the last four winners (Iowa center Luka Garza in 2020-21).
A constant inside presence at both ends of the floor, Edey is a remarkable story in only his sixth season of organized basketball in which he continues to rewrite his school, conference and NCAA record books. He is third in points (2,459) and rebounds (1,299) in Big Ten history heading into the Final Four and needs just six rebounds to move into second place. Edey became the first Boilermaker to win Big Ten Player of the Year accolades in back-to-back seasons in a regular season that saw him post per-game averages of 25.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists per game. His repeat of being the Big Ten’s leading scorer on a Big Ten-title team while winning Player of the Year is only the sixth such mark in conference history.
The Oscar Robertson Trophy is based on regular-season stats only. But Edey’s 2024 postseason stats have only buffeted those that earned him the award. In Purdue’s four NCAA Tournament games Edey has 120 points, 65 rebounds and seven assists – Jerry West (1959) and previous Oscar Robertson Trophy winner Larry Bird (1979) are the only players in NCAA Tournament history to reach those marks in a single tournament.
Edey and Shaquille O’Neal are the only players in NCAA history to average 25.0 points per game, 12.0 rebounds per game, 2.0 blocks per game and shoot at least 62 percent from the field in a season.
The Boilermakers, with their school-record 33 wins in tow, have been impressive playing as the top seed in the NCAA’s Midwest Regional. Purdue now owns the third-largest margin of victory through four games in NCAA Tournament history and looks to make its second appearance in the NCAA Championship Game and first since 1969 with a win over N.C. State in Saturday’s semifinals.
Edey is the 10th Big Ten player and the 11th selection to earn the award going back to two-time winner Jerry Lucas of Ohio State in the 1960-61 and 1961-62 seasons, the two seasons following Oscar Robertson’s consecutive National Player of the Year honors at Cincinnati when the award began in 1959.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest award and the only one named after a former player.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.
ALL-TIME USBWA MEN'S NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY
2023-24: Zach Edey, Purdue (C, 7-4, 300, Sr., Toronto, Ont.)
2022-23: Zach Edey, Purdue (C, 7-4, 305, Jr., Toronto, Ont.)
2021-22: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (F, 6-9, 255, Jr., Lubumbashi, Congo)
2020-21: Luka Garza, Iowa (C, 6-11, 265, Sr., Washington, D.C.)
2019-20: Obi Toppin, Dayton (F, 6-9, So., Brooklyn. N.Y.)
2018-19: Zion Williamson, Duke (F, 6-7, Fr., Spartanburg, S.C.)
2017-18: Jalen Brunson, Villanova (G, 6-3, Jr., Lincolnshire, Ill.)
2016-17: Frank Mason III, Kansas (G, 5-11, Sr., Petersburg, Va.)
2015-16: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (G, 6-4, Sr., Freeport, Bahamas)
2014-15: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (F, 7-0, Sr., Lisle, Ill.)
2013-14: Doug McDermott, Creighton (F, 6-8, Sr., Ames, Iowa)
2012-13: Trey Burke, Michigan (G, 6-0, So., Columbus, Ohio)
2011-12: Anthony Davis, Kentucky (F, 6-10, Fr., Chicago, Ill.)
2010-11: Jimmer Fredette, BYU (G, 6-2, Sr., Glens Falls, N.Y.)
2009-10: Evan Turner, Ohio State (G/F, 6-7, Jr., Chicago, Ill.)
2008-09: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma (F, 6-10, So., Oklahoma City, Okla.)
2007-08: Tyler Hansbrough, N. Carolina (F, 6-10, Jr., Poplar Bluff, Mo.)
2006-07: Kevin Durant, Texas (G/F, 6-9, Fr., Suitland, Md.)
2005-06: Adam Morrison, Gonzaga (F, 6-8, Jr., Spokane, Wash.; J.J. Redick, Duke (G, 6-4, Sr., Roanoke, Va.)
2004-05: Andrew Bogut, Utah (C/F, 7-0, So., Melbourne, Australia)
2003-04: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (G, 6-0, Sr., Chester, Pa.)
2002-03: David West, Xavier (F, 6-9, Sr., Garner, N.C.)
2001-02: Jason Williams, Duke (G, 6-2, Jr., Plainfield, N.J.)
2000-01: Shane Battier, Duke (F, 6-8, Sr., Birmingham, Mich.)
1999-00: Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati (F, 6-9, Sr., Dallas, Texas)
1998-99: Elton Brand, Duke (C, 6-8, So., Peekskill, N.Y.)
1997-98: Antawn Jamison, North Carolina (F, 6-9, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.)
USBWA MEN'S NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1996-97: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest (C, 6-10, Sr., St. Croix, V.I.)
1995-96: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts (C, 6-11, Jr., Hartford, Conn.)
1994-95: Ed O’Bannon, UCLA (F, 6-8, Sr., Lakewood, Calif.)
1993-94: Glenn Robinson, Purdue (F, 6-8, Jr., Gary, Ind.)
1992-93: Calbert Cheaney, Indiana (F, 6-7, Sr., Evansville, Ind.)
1991-92: Christian Laettner, Duke (F, 6-11, Sr., Angola, N.Y.)
1990-91: Larry Johnson, UNLV (F, 6-7, Sr., Dallas, Texas)
1989-90: Lionel Simmons, La Salle (F, 6-6, Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
1988-89: Danny Ferry, Duke (F, 6-10, Sr., Bowie, Md.)
1987-88: Hersey Hawkins, Bradley (G, 6-3, Sr., Chicago, Ill.)
1986-87: David Robinson, Navy (C, 7-1, Sr., Woodbridge, Va.)
1985-86: Walter Berry, St. John’s (F, 6-8, Jr., Bronx, N.Y.)
1984-85: Chris Mullin, St. John’s (F, 6-6, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.)
1983-84: Michael Jordan, North Carolina (G, 6-5, Jr., Wilmington, N.C.)
1982-83: Ralph Sampson, Virginia (C, 7-4, Sr., Harrisonburg, Va.)
1981-82: Ralph Sampson, Virginia (C, 7-4, Jr., Harrisonburg, Va.)
1980-81: Ralph Sampson, Virginia (C, 7-4, So., Harrisonburg, Va.)
1979-80: Mark Aguirre, DePaul (F, 6-7, Jr., Chicago, Ill.)
1978-79: Larry Bird, Indiana State (F, 6-9, Sr., French Lick, Ind.)
1977-78: Phil Ford, North Carolina (G, 6-2, Sr., Rocky Mount, N.C.)
1976-77: Marques Johnson, UCLA (F, 6-7, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.)
1975-76: Adrian Dantley, Notre Dame (F, 6-5, Jr., Washington, D.C.)
1974-75: David Thompson, N.C. State (G/F, 6-4, Sr., Shelby, N.C.)
1973-74: Bill Walton, UCLA (C, 6-11, Sr., La Mesa, Calif.)
1972-73: Bill Walton, UCLA (C, 6-11, Jr., La Mesa, Calif.)
1971-72: Bill Walton, UCLA (C, 6-11, So., La Mesa, Calif.)
1970-71: Sidney Wicks, UCLA (F, 6-8, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.)
1969-70: Pete Maravich, LSU (G/F, 6-5, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.)
1968-69: Pete Maravich, LSU (G/F, 6-5, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.)
1967-68: Lew Alcindor, UCLA (C, 7-2, Jr., New York, N.Y.)
1966-67: Lew Alcindor, UCLA (C, 7-2, So., New York, N.Y.)
1965-66: Cazzie Russell, Michigan (F, 6-5, Sr., Chicago, Ill.)
1964-65: Bill Bradley, Princeton (F, 6-5, Sr., Crystal City, Mo.)
1963-64: Walt Hazzard, UCLA (G, 6-2, Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.)
1962-63: Art Heyman, Duke (F, 6-5, Sr., Rockville Center, N.Y.)
1961-62: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State (F/C, 6-8, Sr., Middletown, Ohio)
1960-61: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State (F/C, 6-8, Jr., Middletown, Ohio)
1959-60: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati (G, 6-5, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
1958-59: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati (G, 6-5, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
BACK-TO-BACK OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY/NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR (7)
2023-24: Zach Edey, Purdue (C, 7-4, 300, Sr., Toronto, Ont.)
2022-23: Zach Edey, Purdue (C, 7-4, 305, Jr., Toronto, Ont.)
1982-83: Ralph Sampson, Virginia (C, 7-4, Sr., Harrisonburg, Va.)
1981-82: Ralph Sampson, Virginia (C, 7-4, Jr., Harrisonburg, Va.)
1980-81: Ralph Sampson, Virginia (C, 7-4, So., Harrisonburg, Va.)
1973-74: Bill Walton, UCLA (C, 6-11, Sr., La Mesa, Calif.)
1972-73: Bill Walton, UCLA (C, 6-11, Jr., La Mesa, Calif.)
1971-72: Bill Walton, UCLA (C, 6-11, So., La Mesa, Calif.)
1969-70: Pete Maravich, LSU (G/F, 6-5, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.)
1968-69: Pete Maravich, LSU (G/F, 6-5, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.)
1967-68: Lew Alcindor, UCLA (C, 7-2, Jr., New York, N.Y.)
1966-67: Lew Alcindor, UCLA (C, 7-2, So., New York, N.Y.)
1961-62: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State (F/C, 6-8, Sr., Middletown, Ohio)
1960-61: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State (F/C, 6-8, Jr., Middletown, Ohio)
1959-60: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati (G, 6-5, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
1958-59: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati (G, 6-5, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
BIG TEN NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR (11 TOTAL AWARDS; 9 PLAYERS)
2023-24: Zach Edey, Purdue (C, 7-4, 300, Sr., Toronto, Ont.)
2022-23: Zach Edey, Purdue (C, 7-4, 305, Jr., Toronto, Ont.)
2020-21: Luka Garza, Iowa (C, 6-11, 265, Sr., Washington, D.C.)
2014-15: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (F, 7-0, Sr., Lisle, Ill.)
2012-13: Trey Burke, Michigan (G, 6-0, So., Columbus, Ohio)
2009-10: Evan Turner, Ohio State (G/F, 6-7, Jr., Chicago, Ill.)
1993-94: Glenn Robinson, Purdue (F, 6-8, Jr., Gary, Ind.)
1992-93: Calbert Cheaney, Indiana (F, 6-7, Sr., Evansville, Ind.)
1965-66: Cazzie Russell, Michigan (F, 6-5, Sr., Chicago, Ill.)
1961-62: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State (F/C, 6-8, Sr., Middletown, Ohio)
1960-61: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State (F/C, 6-8, Jr., Middletown, Ohio)