Zach Edey’s mom is his No.1 fan and shares powerful one-word message before biggest game of Purdue giant’s career
Zach Edey was just one win away from college basketball immortality but couldn't get over the final hurdle.
On Monday evening, Edey's Purdue Boilermakers lost 60-75 to fellow No.1 seed UConn in the national championship game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
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7ft 4in Edey has dominated March Madness this year, winning the 2024 Naismith Men's College Player of the Year award and gaining legions of new fans.
Despite his newfound popularity, mom Julia remains Zach's No.1 fan, and shared a powerful one-word message to her son on the eve of the monumental game.
"BELIEVE," Julia wrote on X on Monday, hours before tip-off.
Edey was born to Julia and Glen Edey in 2002 and was raised in Toronto's Leaside neighborhood.
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Julia is a first-generation Chinese Canadian and comes from a working-class household that prided itself on the restaurant they owned.
"She knows all about hard work. She knows all about working even when no one's paying attention," Zach told in 2023.
"My mom kind of grew up learning stuff on her own and she passed that on to me.â€
The 21-year-old big man shares an incredibly tight bond with his mother, who played a pivotal role in his basketball development.
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Julia travelled across Canada and the US when Zach was a youngster to ensure he enrolled at the best basketball camps.
During his freshman year of college, she retired from her job as a mechanical engineer to relocate to be nearer to Purdue.
"A lot of people look at their moms as kind of like their rocks in their life and I'm the same way," Zach told in 2023.
â€I come from an immigrant family ... my mom didn't have any time to figure this out and it wasn't something at that time that they would have ever thought was something to aspire [for] in terms of a dream,†Julia added.
Julia has become a March Madness star in her own right, even creating 'Big Maple' merchandise - a nickname she came up with for Zach to honor his Canadian roots.
She has a big presence on social media and can be seen dancing in the crowd at Zach's games including the NCAA Tournament.
Ahead of Purdue's Final Four matchup with NC State, Julia was part of a heartwarming TNT feature where she recorded a message to be played for Zach.
"This journey that you've invited me on, it's been incredible," she said.
"I'm so grateful to be here ... I told you before that, although I am incredibly proud of witnessing what you've done, I'm more proud of how you've done it: with class, with courage, finding who you are and staying true to that core of it."
"Now, go kick some more butt. Have some fun, do what you do and know that I am always with you. And I'm a helluva lucky mom to have had a kid like you. Enjoy and savor every second. You really were built for this and worked so hard to get it. So go get it, sweetie. I will be cheering as always."
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In response to the touching video, Zach said, “She’s a great mom.
"The things she’s done for me. It’s essential for me to kind of have had the success I’ve had.
“Being in the Final Four with her. Being able to share that with her after everything we’ve been through. I know she’s going to love it, and it’s going to be something that I treasure forever.â€
Zach's dad Glen is just as supportive as Julia, albeit slightly less visible.
Still, Glen was there to watch his son and the Boilermarkers defeat the Michigan State Spartans and win the Big Ten Championship at the beginning of March.
Zach's parents would have no doubt been hoping he could have ended his college basketball career with a bang and won a national title before going to the NBA.
Despite a 37-point, 10-rebound performance against UConn he couldn't steer the Boilermarkers to victory and his final collegiate ball game ended in defeat.
He had heated words with UConn head coach Dan Hurley during a timeout and afterwards mom Julia wrote on X: "Such a great run.
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"Love those boys and their fight to the end. And the class of OUR coach.
"Forever a Boiler."
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