More ($): Thoughts on Edwards' return to Purdue
After following up his All-America sophomore season by spending the better part of the spring exploring his realities as an NBA prospect, Carsen Edwards has opted to withdraw from the draft and return to the Boilermakers.
After working out for seven NBA teams and participating in the league's draft combine, Edwards will come back to Purdue with two remaining seasons of eligibility and presumably a valuable gauge on where he stands as a professional prospect.
Not that Internet conjecture is the end-all, be-all, but he's not projected as a first-round pick right now, it being debatable about his chances to go early in the second.
At least one media outlet, Sports Illustrated, has projected the 6-foot scoring guard as a first-round pick next year.
Edwards earned several All-America honors and won the Jerry West Award as college basketball's premier shooting guard following a sophomore season in which he led Purdue in scoring on its way to a program-record 30 wins. Edwards averaged 18-and-a-half points, made 41 percent of his threes and showed ample progress from Year 1 to Year 2 in his decision-making, poise, efficiency and other such intangibles.
Things change at Purdue for him next season — which he'll enter as a preseason All-America and likely the Big Ten's Preseason Player-of-the-Year — following the departure of a highly influential senior class.
Whether he's technically the Boilermakers' point guard or not, he figures to have the ball in his hands constantly in a more ball-screen-oriented offense, affording him a chance to play the role of lead guard, and leader, the very roles NBA teams will probably want to see him more of him in.
Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?
Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook
More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.
