Former Purdue basketball star and current Memphis Grizzlies center, Zach Edey, has been charged with reckless driving in Indiana. According to reports, the incident occurred on May 1st in Tippecanoe County when Edey was allegedly caught driving 101 mph in a 55-mph zone.
An Indiana State Police trooper stopped Edey, who was driving a Kia Sorento, after clocking his speed on Indiana 25. The probable cause affidavit states that Edey's vehicle passed the trooper's going the opposite direction at around 7:03 p.m. After catching up, the trooper initiated a stop as Edey turned onto County Road 700 South.
Edey, 23, reportedly told police he was attempting to pass another vehicle, offering this as an explanation for the excessive speed. He is now facing a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving and had an initial hearing scheduled for Monday in Tippecanoe Superior 6.
Edey's rise to basketball fame includes leading Purdue to the NCAA championship game in 2024 and being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. During his final college season, he was a dominant force, leading the nation in scoring with 24.9 points per game and finishing third in rebounding with 12.2 rebounds per game. He also earned All-Rookie First Team honors in the NBA.
This legal issue comes as the Boston Celtics are looking at potential draft picks for the 2025 NBA Draft to bolster their frontcourt depth. With veterans like Al Horford and Luke Kornet potentially becoming free agents and Kristaps Porzingis' contract nearing its end, the Celtics are considering drafting a center or power forward who can contribute as a 3-point shooter and provide solid interior defense. Whether this situation involving Edey impacts future draft considerations for other teams remains to be seen.