Vincent Edwards returning to Purdue after testing NBA stock
Purdue Season Review ($): Vince Edwards | Analysis | Purdue 2016-17 primer page
After exploring his NBA draft prospects for the past month-plus, Purdue junior-to-be forward Vincent Edwards is returning to the Boilermakers next season, Purdue announced.
Edwards participated in team workouts for the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz.
“After getting the NBA experience and going through the evaluation process, I have talked with my family and Coach (Matt) Painter and decided it is best for me to return for my junior year," Edwards said in a statement. "Although the NBA is still a dream for me one day, I am coming back to Purdue to make next year a special one. Thank you to all the organizations who gave me the chance to not only showcase my talents, but also the chance to know me as a young man and not just an athlete."
The 6-foot-8 forward was Purdue's second-leading scorer last season, averaging 11.3 points per game, and led the Boilermakers in assists - he handed out 100 - for the second time in as many seasons. He shot 41 percent from three-point range and 82 percent at the foul line.
He did end the season, also, trending upward, averaging 15.5 points over the season's final eight games, including team-high totals of 19 and 24, respectively, in the Big Ten Tournament title game against Michigan State and the NCAA Tournament loss to Little Rock.
Edwards finished the season playing some of the best basketball of his career after spending much of the season acclimating to playing more on the wing. As a freshman, he played primarily the "power" forward position.
Like with other players like him around the country, Edwards took advantage of the newly more lenient NBA draft exploration process, affording him a chance to build a foundation for years to come.
"I think a lot depends on his shooting," said Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com. "That's what he's going to have to prove, maybe speed up that release and become a more consistent weapon. He does a lot of other things. I love his passing, and I love the way he competes. He has a great feel for the game and good size. He fits that 3/4 mold, that combo forward everybody's kind of looking for in today's NBA.
"He's going to be OK. It's just that shooting. He'll have to show he can get that off with an NBA defender on him or closing out on him. But that's fine. He didn't come into college as someone who was going to be a one-and-done or two-year guy. He's ahead of schedule."
In a statement, Painter said he expects Edwards to "become one of the best players in the Big Ten in the upcoming season."
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