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Holly MacKenzie

The Naismith Notes: Zach Edey continues to make noise in NCAA

Purdue big man Zach Edey showed he keeps his Canadian pride close to his heart this week, posting a photo of his Purdue jersey inside out to show off the canadian flag patch stitched inside.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🙂🇨🇦 <a href="https://t.co/BJiFXvr5ik">pic.twitter.com/BJiFXvr5ik</a></p>&mdash; zach (@zach_edey) <a href="https://twitter.com/zach_edey/status/1619816904012754944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Edey was recently featured in a CBS Sports video segment where his mother Julia shared how a love for basketball found him despite growing up surrounded by hockey and baseball. She also shares that the last time Edey had a teacher that was taller than him was in the second grade. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/BoilerBall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoilerBall</a> center <a href="https://twitter.com/zach_edey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zach_edey</a> played hockey and baseball growing up. His mother Julia says that basketball found him.<br><br>&quot;We did not push our kids into any sport. Zach&#39;s dad and I had said &#39;If he&#39;s supposed to play basketball, it will find him.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/kG2CNZKzNc">pic.twitter.com/kG2CNZKzNc</a></p>&mdash; CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/1619784003774554112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The 7-foot-4 boilermaker just dropped a career-high 38 points to go with 13 rebounds in Sunday’s 77-61 Purdue victory over Michigan State. An 8-0 run by Edey himself in the first half had Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo delivering praise after the victory. “What did he do?” Izzo asked the media after the game. “Be bigger than any player I’ve ever coached against and be more skilled with his hands than any player I've ever coached against.”

This past Tuesday, Edey was announced as a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the best men’s college basketball player each year. Edey is one of 20 finalists on the late list.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watch list season. <br><br>Z on the <a href="https://twitter.com/WoodenAward?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WoodenAward</a> midseason top 20 watch list. <a href="https://t.co/Tg2j2k4Mrv">pic.twitter.com/Tg2j2k4Mrv</a></p>&mdash; Purdue Men&#39;s Basketball (@BoilerBall) <a href="https://twitter.com/BoilerBall/status/1620204152524767232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

- Joining Edey on the John R. Wooden Award Top 20 late list is UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards. The junior forward is averaging 17.4 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Huskies this season while shooting 61 percent from the floor. She is also contributing 2.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and a steal each game. As UConn has dealt with more than its share of injuries to key players this season, Edwards has embraced the challenge to play a larger role and has shone with the increased opportunity. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Aaliyah Edwards was named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20! <br><br>👏 <a href="https://t.co/rbsKz815FM">pic.twitter.com/rbsKz815FM</a></p>&mdash; UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/UConnWBB/status/1620868566311649280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Edwards has set various career-highs for herself this season, while also recording nine double-doubles through 22 games played. A career-high 20 rebounds marked the first time that a Huskies player has grabbed 20 rebounds since Maya Moore in 2010. Edwards also set a new career-high in scoring with 26 points in December.

Most recently, Edwards was named the Big East Player of the Week after helping lead the Huskies to an undefeated 3-0 record this past week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Aaliyah Edwards is the BIG EAST Player of the Week! 👏 <a href="https://t.co/2UrA5x4aIo">pic.twitter.com/2UrA5x4aIo</a></p>&mdash; UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/UConnWBB/status/1620100795776790528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

- Drexel University’s Keishana Washington has added another NCAA award watch to her incredible senior season as well. On Tuesday, Washington was named as one of 10 candidates for the 2023 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, given to the top shooting guard in the NCAA. Previously this season, Washington was named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year and the USBWA National Player of the Year lists. This comes after the 22-year-old crossed 2,000 career points earlier this month, becoming just the second woman in Drexel history to accomplish the feat. For the season, Washington is third in NCAA scoring with a 26.2 point-per-game scoring average.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">She&#39;s done it again! Keishana Washington has been named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale midseason Top 10 for shooting guard of the year by <a href="https://twitter.com/WBCA1981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WBCA1981</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoophall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hoophall</a> <br><br>📰 | <a href="https://t.co/raAvia5Moy">https://t.co/raAvia5Moy</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FearTheDragon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FearTheDragon</a> <a href="https://t.co/BtHtziHllP">pic.twitter.com/BtHtziHllP</a></p>&mdash; Drexel Women&#39;s Basketball (@DrexelWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrexelWBB/status/1620482174225981456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

- In EuroCup news, Trae Bell-Haynes had a 14-point, 10-assist double-double in Buducnost’s 78-68 victory over the London Lions. The 27-year-old Toronto native plays with Buducnost in the Montenegrin Basketball League

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Double double performance for 🇨🇦 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MVP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MVP</a> 🟦 ⬜️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeOwnTheFuture?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeOwnTheFuture</a> <a href="https://t.co/p9VMEnEL1Q">pic.twitter.com/p9VMEnEL1Q</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1620897588336820224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

- Shifting to the NBA, Indiana Pacers rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard were named to the Jordan Rising Stars roster for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">a wallpaper for our rising stars.🥶💫 <a href="https://t.co/wjuD4z7yu0">pic.twitter.com/wjuD4z7yu0</a></p>&mdash; Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1620856187196694529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mathurin is leading all reserves with 17.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game this season while Nembhard is averaging 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and a steal in 27 minutes per game. Each player has provided plenty of highlights already in their young careers and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was thrilled to tell the two rookies that they'll be among the NBA’s best in Salt Lake City later this month. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">💫RISING STARS💫<br><br>Congratulations to rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard on being named 2023 NBA Rising Stars!<br><br>🔗: <a href="https://t.co/M8kVFesfEK">https://t.co/M8kVFesfEK</a> <a href="https://t.co/jNXIW94J6F">pic.twitter.com/jNXIW94J6F</a></p>&mdash; Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1620505626077188097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

- G League Ignite forward Leonard Miller will be joining Nembhard and Mathurin in Salt Lake City. The 19-year-old Scarborough, Ontario native was named to the Jordan Rising Stars roster after averaging 15.1 points, and 8.4 rebounds per game through nine games played with the Ignite this season. Miller suited up for Canada this past summer at GLOBL JAM in Toronto.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Earning his 1st <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JordanRisingStars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JordanRisingStars</a> selection... Leonard Miller of the <a href="https://twitter.com/nbagleague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbagleague</a> Ignite!<br><br>See his highlights, stats and MORE, now in the NBA App: <a href="https://t.co/xty4D9JFxP">https://t.co/xty4D9JFxP</a> <a href="https://t.co/SCHJ4Xv8db">pic.twitter.com/SCHJ4Xv8db</a></p>&mdash; #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/1620521945942077441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

- Wednesday marked the beginning of February and with it, Black History Month. Canada Basketball’s I Dream because I CAN program returns to celebrate and recognize influential Black Canadians who have made significant contributions to the growth of the game across the country. To learn more about the initiatives that Canada Basketball will be launching in February and beyond, check out the release below.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I Dream Because I CAN 💭🏀 <br><br>Throughout the month of February (and beyond) we&#39;ll work to recognize and celebrate the origins, challenges, and successes of Black Canadians across all aspects of the game<br><br>Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/gZMEJeDidj">https://t.co/gZMEJeDidj</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IDreamBecauseICAN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IDreamBecauseICAN</a>🇨🇦 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackHistoryMonth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackHistoryMonth</a></p>&mdash; Canada Basketball (@CanBball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanBball/status/1620814469453713408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>