Purdue basketball freshman big man may redshirt, but he's making decision tough

Sources: Zach Edey making "strides every day"

Purdue big man progressing week-to-week and showing his potential on the court.

Zach Edey could play a big role for Purdue this season. A 7-4 freshman center from Canada, Edey has been one of the most talked-about players in college basketball since he arrived on campus in June.

Edey has all the tools to be a star. He's big, he's strong, he's athletic, and he can shoot. He's also a hard worker and a good teammate.

But Edey is also a freshman. And like all freshmen, he's going to have some growing pains.

That's why Purdue coach Matt Painter is considering redshirting Edey this season. A redshirt year would give Edey a chance to develop physically and mentally, and it would allow him to learn Painter's system.

But Edey is making it tough on Painter to redshirt him. In the Boilermakers' first two exhibition games, Edey has averaged 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game.

Edey's performance in the exhibition games has shown that he has the potential to be a special player. But it's also shown that he's not quite ready to be a full-time contributor in the Big Ten.

Painter will have to make a decision on Edey's future soon. The Boilermakers' regular season opener is just over two weeks away.

If Painter decides to redshirt Edey, it will be a disappointment for the freshman. But it could also be the best thing for his long-term development.