Purdue men’s basketball star Zach Eady won his second AP Player of the Year award ahead of the team’s Final Four matchup against North Carolina State on Saturday night.
But Eadie feels he could have inflated his profile and wallet a little more with a name, image and likeness deal this season.
Since he is from Canada, he is not legally allowed to enter into a NIL contract in the United States. His NIL contract, which he receives, must be done within Canada or when the team travels overseas.
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Purdue center Zach Eady speaks with reporters before the NCAA Tournament Final Four game Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. North Carolina State will play Purdue on Saturday. (AP Photo/Bryn Anderson)
The 7-foot-4 center said Friday he believes U.S. law needs to change after “missing out on so much money.”
“I hope that changes in the future,” Eady, who is at Purdue on a student visa, told reporters via ESPN. “Obviously we’ve lost a lot of money this year. At the end of the day, things certainly need to change. I understand things like the legal process. It takes time.
“This is not an NCAA rule. This is American law. I understand that it will take time to change it, but I think it needs to change.”
Oakland’s Jack Goelke wants the NCAA Tournament format to be maintained to give mid-major schools a chance.
Purdue University center Zach Eady (15 years old) shoots Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3 years old) during the second half of the NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8 game in Detroit on March 31, 2024. blocked. (AP Photo/Paul Sancia)
Gonzaga Bulldogs star Ryan Nembhard of Canada expressed similar sentiments at the beginning of the men’s basketball tournament. He said he can’t really make NIL money because of his position.
Nembhard’s teammate, Croatian Luka Krajinovic, also expressed hope for change.
“I think it’s been a struggle for all the international players who come to play in America. I think that problem will resolve itself and a lot of people are working on it. For now, I’m just focusing on basketball. That doesn’t concern me,” he said, via The Spokesman-Review.
Will Berg, the Boilermakers’ 7-foot-2 center, is in Eadie’s position. He is from Sweden.
Purdue center Zach Eady practices ahead of the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four game on Friday, April 5, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. North Carolina State will play Purdue. (AP Photo/Bryn Anderson)
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For now, Purdue needs to focus on getting to the national championship game.
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