[1][2] His 6-foot-3-inch (1.91 m) mother was born to Chinese immigrants in Toronto, where she grew up and played basketball;[3][4][5] his father is white.

[3] As a grade 10 student at Leaside High School in Toronto, Edey started playing basketball with the Northern Kings Amateur Athletic Union program.

[7] He joined their second-tier team in his first year, working daily with IMG coach and former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Daniel Santiago.

[6][7] A consensus three-star recruit, he reclassified to the 2020 class and committed to playing college basketball for Purdue over offers from Baylor and Santa Clara, among others.

[8] In his freshman season at Purdue University, Edey was listed at 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m), making him the tallest player in Big Ten history.

[10] Sharing playing time with fellow centre Trevion Williams, he averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 14 minutes per game, earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honours.

[16][non-primary source needed] During the 2022–23 season, Edey received Big Ten Player of the Week six times,[17] tying the school record for most awards in a single season (Caleb Swanigan, 2016–17) and rising to second most all-time in men's basketball in the Big Ten (Evan Turner, 2009–10).

[20] On January 5, 2024, Edey became the second player in Purdue history to reach 1000 career rebounds, following Joe Barry Carroll.

[23] Edey currently holds the Purdue career record for rebounds with 1,321, passing Joe Barry Carroll in a game against Ohio State on February 18, 2024.

[30] On October 23, Edey made his NBA debut, putting up five points and five rebounds in 15 minutes played, as he fouled out, in a 126–124 win over the Utah Jazz.

[33] Edey was selected by coach Jordi Fernández to play in 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, becoming the only college player in the team.