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Vince Edwards: Named a Top-20 Wing Player in NCAA

By Mathew Muncy

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Purdue Boilermakers sophomore Vince Edwards was named a Top-20 Wing in college basketball by Sports Illustrated.

Vince Edwards is a nationally ranked Top-20 player at the wing. Edwards, the 6-7 sophomore from Purdue, was selected by Chris Johnson of SI.com. Johnson’s list also included names like Gonzaga’s Kyle Wiltjer, North Carolina’s Justin Jackson, and Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett.

-= Related: Boiler’s Swanigan Is Already Turning Heads =-

Vince Edwards had a stellar freshman season. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, set a school record for most assists (90) in a season by a non-guard, and won Big Ten Freshman of the Week three separate times, which was also a school record. Edwards was also one of only five freshmen in the nation to average 8.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.5 APG.

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It’s great to see Edwards and Purdue getting more national recognition and hopefully that just adds a little more motivation. For the Boilermakers – to make the giant leap forward that most fans are anticipating – Edwards is going to have to improve on his offensive consistency. Last season, Purdue went 6-0 when Edwards was the team’s leading scorer, but only scored 10+ points in 10 of his 33 games.

According to Johnson, Vince Edwards is the all-around wing player that coach Matt Painter’s Boilermakers need to compliment their frontcourt. Per Johnson:

"“No team in the Big Ten will be able to match Purdue’s depth in the frontcourt this season: The Boilermakers return sophomore Isaac Haas (7’2″, 282 pounds) and senior A.J. Hammons (7’0″, 250 pounds) and added five-star recruit Caleb Swanigan (6’9″, 250 pounds). Yet appraising the Boilermakers as a “team with a lot of size” is reductive. Edwards can bend defenses with his scoring and playmaking, and his versatility will give coach Matt Painter flexibility when trying to craft lineups incorporating three hulking big men with limited shooting range.”"

Two other players from Indiana colleges were named to Johnson’s list: Kellen Dunham of Butler, and Troy Williams of Indiana, respectively.

Be sure to check back for more Purdue Boilermakers coverage here at Ink On Indy!

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