Zach Edey's Ethnicity: The Purdue Boilermakers Star Felt 'Very Different' Growing Up Biracial

Zach Edey, Purdue University Boilermakers' seven-foot athlete, has an interesting ethnicity. Although he initially felt different from his peers, he definitely discovered an advantage to it.

Biracial athlete Zach Edey has made quite a splash in the college basketball scene, impressing sports enthusiasts with his exceptional prowess and towering dominance on the court.

Born to an Asian mother and a white father, Zach has opened up about his identity and expressed wondering why few looked like him. Nevertheless, his parents have consistently loved and supported him throughout.

Zach Is Purdue's Top Athlete

Zach was born in Canada on May 14, 2002, and turned 21 this year. He attended high school at IMG Academy before heading to Purdue University, where he became a star in their basketball team, the Boilermakers.

He etched his name in Purdue's history, becoming their first Big Ten Player of the Year since 2017. His list of achievements includes first-team All-Big Ten honors and the title of Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

His excellence didn't go unnoticed, as he won all major National Player of the Year Awards and earned prestigious recognitions like the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award for the nation's top center.

Zach, who stands at seven feet and four inches and weighs in at 300 pounds, showed exceptional skills in shooting, rebounds, blocks, and assists per game in the 2022-2023 college basketball season.

In the summer of 2022, Zach took his talents to the international stage and earned a spot on Canada's National Team after an impressive training camp. He further showcased his prowess at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Zach Is Chinese Canadian And Felt Different Growing Up

Zach grew up in Toronto with his only brother, Doug. Little is known about Zach's sibling, but he was reportedly also a skilled athlete in high school.

The brothers' parents are Glen and Julia Edey. Not much is known about Zach's white father, who previously worked as an assistant baseball coach.

Julia was born in Toronto to Chinese immigrants, and she worked at her family's restaurant during her teenage years before she worked as a mechanical engineer. She is now retired from her profession.

Zach has shared his feelings of being "very different," attributing it to his physical stature and his identity as a Chinese Canadian in a sport where only a few resembled him. However, he also noted a good thing about being unique:

"Being different, it made me find myself. It made me embrace who I am because I can't be like everyone else."

The young athlete keeps his personal life relatively private, sharing little about his family on social media. On his Instagram, he mainly posts about his basketball journey with Purdue.

For her part, Julia described her son's journey as "absolutely incredible."

Zach Shares A Positive Relationship With His Parents

Zach was involved in playing different sports, such as hockey and baseball. His parents have always supported his dreams, never pressuring him into any particular sport.

"Zach's dad and I had said 'If he's supposed to play basketball, it will find him,'" Julia said. Between his parents, Zach shares a close and warm relationship with his mother.

Julia has supported him by attending red-carpet events and watching his games. On the other hand, Zach appreciates his mom's consistent presence at games, noting the joy of having a familiar face in the crowd.

For her part, Julia described her son's journey as "absolutely incredible." She highlighted the joy of being included in his journey and how it's amazing for her to witness his growth as he continues his journey in basketball.