Painter got his wish Saturday night when Edwards, a 6-foot-7 senior forward at Middletown High School, announced he was ready to accept Painter’s scholarship offer. Edwards had arrived with an open mind about committing and after a day spent with the players and coaches, he knew it was the right place for him.
“Just being up there with the team, getting to jell with the guys and play with them, that kind of helped push me to my decision,” said Edwards, who was also offered by Michigan, Dayton, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and others. “It feels great. It didn’t really hit me that I was committed until I got home.”
As a junior, Edwards averaged 21.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and two blocks per game. An unusually skilled ballhandler for his size, he said Painter plans to use him in the same capacity as he employed one of the better players in the program’s history a few years ago.
“I’ll play the two, three and four. If you remember Robbie Hummel, that’s going to be me. I’ll be moving around,” Edwards said.
Edwards’ father, Bill Edwards, is a former hoops star who owns Wright State records for career points and rebounds. While the younger Edwards had a chance to follow in his footsteps by starring locally — UD was the first school to offer him — close proximity was never a priority for anyone in the family.
“He was just there for me as far as preparing me for the process. He’s not a real emotional guy,” Vincent Edwards said. “No one really cared if I stayed home or went away, as long as I make it out there.”
About the Author