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Raider Connection Q&A: Bill Edwards Jr., Miami sophomore and son of WSU great
Two times, when he left Middletown High School as a standout senior and when he transferred away from Penn State, Wright State basketball fans had dreams of seeing Bill Edwards Jr. in a WSU uniform.
His father, Bill Edwards, is widely considered the best player in WSU history. Playing from 1989-93, he set records that still stand for career scoring (2,303 points) and rebounding (907). Instead, Bill Jr. first chose Penn State and then transferred to Miami University, where is now a sophomore averaging 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Heading into Miami’s matchup with Wright State on Saturday, the 6-foot-6 sophomore forward took time to discuss his path to Miami, the anticipation of facing his father’s former school and the place WSU has held in their family.
Q: How big of a place did WSU hold in your consciousness growing up?
A: As far as going to games, yeah, we went. I know when they retired my dad’s jersey it was a big thing, and we went back to watch the teams plays. Bob Grant (the WSU athletic director) is a great guy, he’s a close family friend. A lot of the alumni and stuff I knew, they call me “Little Billy,” because they see me as a baby growing up and me coming around, I think they’re surprised about how big I got.
Q: Did you feel pressure to play basketball because of what your father has done?
A: Even though my dad was a pro (12 years playing overseas), he never wanted to force basketball on us as kids. His thought was, “If my kids want to play, that’s what they’ll do.” I was really a big football guy, and I really wanted to go to college for football initially. But I think basketball was always my heart, and I did both when I was growing up. It was never forced on us, but it was always around us.
Q: How seriously did you play football?
A: I broke my ankle my sophomore year (at Middletown). I was a backup quarterback to Skylar Jones, who went to Wake Forest, and I dressed varsity as a freshman year and was a backup my sophomore year. When I broke my ankle, I concentrated on basketball. I was hearing from some bigger schools, so I put football down.
Q: When you transferred from Penn State, did you think about going to Wright State?
A: Just my relationship with some of the coaches here (at Miami), it was just right away, I kinda just called and was like … it was all a fast experience. I was just trying to get home to handle some family stuff, and Miami was an option for me, and a good fit. I don’t think I really took all the things into consideration as far as Wright State. Nothing against them or anything like that, it was just a quick decision.
Q: Did you hear from people that you should go to Wright State?
A: Of course. Friends who went to college with my dad, they said, “You should go play at Wright State,” sometimes just joking around. But yeah, I heard it a lot
Q: You sat out last year after transferring and are playing this season. How is it going?
A: As a team and individually, it’s been an up and down season so far. I don’t think we had the start we wanted, and I don’t think I had the start I wanted. I take some of the blame for that. We’re trying to get back on the right track this week, and I know (the Raiders) are too.
Q: What do you think it’s going to be like playing against Wright State?
A: It’s gonna be a fun experience here in Millett. I always wanted to play in the Nutter Center, so I’ll get that opportunity next year, but it’s still playing against Wright State. Coach Billy (Donlon) is a good guy, a young guy, and I know he’s trying to get his team back on track too, so they’ll come ready to play.
Q: Even though you’re at Miami, do you have any stray Wright State clothing on campus or at your dad’s place?
A: All through the house. I have Wright State shorts all over. I have a Wright State green sweatsuit I wore when I first got on campus. I wore it to the library one time, and people said, “You can’t be wearing that around here.” I said, “It’s not because I’m playing for Wright State. It’s because of my dad.”
Q: What’s your dad’s relationship like with Wright State?
A: I think it’s a good relationship between him and Wright State. He gave back to the new facility there, and we went back up for the opening. I know he talks to Bob Grant on the phone, and I know he follows them. When Wright State was playing Ohio State, he called me, and we checked it out. I think it’ll always be a good relationship between Wright State and the family.
Q: You were born while your father was still at Wright State playing, but you were probably too young to remember it.
A: We have a big picture in my house of my dad in warm-ups and me holding a basketball, and I think there are some fans that might be remember us being together like that.
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