Edwards a Key Building Block for the Mountaineers This Season
October 03, 2023 05:30 PM | Men's Basketball, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Josh Eilert admitted last week hanging on to Syracuse transfer Jesse Edwards was critical to stabilizing the Mountaineer basketball program in July when the entire team was basically free agents.
After Bob Huggins announced his resignation, the players had a 30-day window to transfer immediately.
Seven eventually did, but Edwards remained.
"I really didn't want to leave," he said earlier today. "I was quite happy here. I liked the place and I'm here with my girlfriend (whom he met at Syracuse). We've got a nice spot, and we were excited to get everything started."
For Edwards, it was more about looking for reasons to stay than reasons to leave.
WVU director of athletics Wren Baker made Edwards' choice much easier when he tabbed Eilert to be the team's interim coach for the 2023-24 season, and then Eilert kept most of the coaching staff intact.
"When we got a couple good reasons to stay with the staff and some of the rest of my teammates were staying solid, no, I was not trying to get out of here," Edwards said.
"He really was that fulcrum in terms of the balancing act," Eilert admitted. "That was something we could really build off."
Arizona transfer Kerr Kriisa spent about a week considering his options, as did Montana State transfer RaeQuan Battle, but all three chose to stick with the Mountaineers. And those three guys can play for any team in the country, especially Edwards, who will attract the attention of NBA scouts this winter.
Edwards averaged a double-double last year at Syracuse - Jim Boeheim's last coaching the Orange. Boeheim discovered Edwards at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after Edwards moved to the United States from his native Holland.
Edwards improved each year he played for Boeheim at Syracuse. The 6-foot-11, 240-pounder went from averaging roughly two points and two rebounds per game during his freshman and sophomore seasons to 12 points and 6.5 rebounds per game two years ago.
Last year, Edwards averaged 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game to earn All-ACC Third Team honors. He scored 27 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in an early-season win over Wake Forest, had 27 and seven in a win against Boston College, produced 25 and 11 in a loss to Miami and had 22 and 16 in a late-season victory over Notre Dame.
"Playing for Boeheim was a great learning experience," Edwards said. "Next to Huggs, he's one of the legends in the college game so learning from him every day shaped my basketball game and him and his crew at Syracuse really built me into the player I am today. It was an amazing experience."
Edwards recalled one instance early in his college career when Boeheim imparted on him some valuable words of wisdom.
"When I was a lot younger, a freshman I think, and coach Boeheim was talking to me about his time with Melo (Carmelo Anthony) when he played there. He described the way he played and the way he thought about the game," Edwards recalled. "When you are young, you feel some pressure when there are 30,000 fans screaming at you, and he said when Melo came in, he was used to the pressure because he was all about the game. He zoned out and locked into what the mission was, and it was all basketball when you are on the court."
Good advice Edwards took to heart.
The pro people like his ability to run the floor and block shots (172 in 85 career games) as his offensive skills continue to evolve. Jesse had 20 points and eight rebounds against Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac in a FIBA game this summer and is most effective finishing around the rim.
"He's as long a rim-runner out of a pick and roll as we've ever had," Eilert said. "Those guys who can handle the ball and throw it up to him are going to rack up a lot of assists with him pressuring the rim."
The big challenge for Edwards will be transitioning from the back of Boeheim's 2-3 zone to West Virginia's man-to-man defense established under Huggins.
Eilert has indicated that he is keeping those successful defensive principles intact this season.
"It's been four years of 2-3 zone and, of course, I played man before that so it's still in there," Edwards explained. "It's getting used to man defense and new play sets, but the basics are still there. It's a lot of help and a lot of ball-screen coverages."
This year's West Virginia roster has taken on sort of a United Nations look with guys from Estonia, Israel, Egypt, and, of course, Edwards from The Netherlands.
The blending of cultures has already been a valuable learning experience for Edwards.
"It's more than at Syracuse, and I think here it's been mostly American players, so it's fun," Edwards said. "Everybody's got different cultures and different backgrounds, but it's jelling well. Nobody has got bad blood with each other or anything like that."
Edwards was born and raised in Amsterdam and didn't come to the United States until IMG Academy found out about him. In the meantime, he said he also played soccer and ran track, demonstrating his all-around athletic skills.
Most of the foreign players who come to the U.S. typically have soccer in their athletic backgrounds. IMG is where his basketball skills began to blossom.
"That got me some exposure and really got me into the college basketball game," Edwards noted. "From there, I got some attention and some offers, and I went to Syracuse."
When he chose to part ways with Syracuse after last season, his three choices boiled down to Gonzaga, Kansas and West Virginia. He ultimately picked West Virginia for the opportunity to play for another hall of fame coach in Huggins.
When that ultimately fell through, his commitment to WVU never wavered.
"The reason I came here and the reason most guys signed up for this was still there because the rest of the guys were here," Edwards said. "It was a winning team and everything that was built up was still there, and it's up to us to carry it into a new era, if you will."
Edwards said he's heard a lot about Big 12 basketball and is anxious to see how he fares against some of the best players and teams in the country.
"I think I've become a pretty solid pick and roll center. That's the way I base my game off and my that's my profile," he said. "I'm expanding my range on offense. I'm really trying to get the most I can get out of my body.
"I wasn't always a rebounder, but I think it's something I've developed with my game. I'm curious to see how it's going to go when we get to the Big 12. I think I will be able to get mine," he said.
Overall, Edwards said he's pleased with how well the team has gotten along so far.
"It's about coming together. You don't want to have a team that's all over the place starting the season," he said.
"It's been surprising for me," he continued. "It's been different than any circumstances I've been in, obviously, but in a way it's kind of brought us together. Everyone was kind of in shock, but we stuck together as a team and the fans online have been really supportive. They are looking forward to the season, and they want to see us win."
Mountaineer Madness this Friday night will be the first opportunity for fans to see Edwards and his teammates on the floor.
The event is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
After Bob Huggins announced his resignation, the players had a 30-day window to transfer immediately.
Seven eventually did, but Edwards remained.
"I really didn't want to leave," he said earlier today. "I was quite happy here. I liked the place and I'm here with my girlfriend (whom he met at Syracuse). We've got a nice spot, and we were excited to get everything started."
For Edwards, it was more about looking for reasons to stay than reasons to leave.
WVU director of athletics Wren Baker made Edwards' choice much easier when he tabbed Eilert to be the team's interim coach for the 2023-24 season, and then Eilert kept most of the coaching staff intact.
"When we got a couple good reasons to stay with the staff and some of the rest of my teammates were staying solid, no, I was not trying to get out of here," Edwards said.
"He really was that fulcrum in terms of the balancing act," Eilert admitted. "That was something we could really build off."
Arizona transfer Kerr Kriisa spent about a week considering his options, as did Montana State transfer RaeQuan Battle, but all three chose to stick with the Mountaineers. And those three guys can play for any team in the country, especially Edwards, who will attract the attention of NBA scouts this winter.
Edwards averaged a double-double last year at Syracuse - Jim Boeheim's last coaching the Orange. Boeheim discovered Edwards at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after Edwards moved to the United States from his native Holland.
Edwards improved each year he played for Boeheim at Syracuse. The 6-foot-11, 240-pounder went from averaging roughly two points and two rebounds per game during his freshman and sophomore seasons to 12 points and 6.5 rebounds per game two years ago.
Last year, Edwards averaged 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game to earn All-ACC Third Team honors. He scored 27 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in an early-season win over Wake Forest, had 27 and seven in a win against Boston College, produced 25 and 11 in a loss to Miami and had 22 and 16 in a late-season victory over Notre Dame.
"Playing for Boeheim was a great learning experience," Edwards said. "Next to Huggs, he's one of the legends in the college game so learning from him every day shaped my basketball game and him and his crew at Syracuse really built me into the player I am today. It was an amazing experience."
Edwards recalled one instance early in his college career when Boeheim imparted on him some valuable words of wisdom.
"When I was a lot younger, a freshman I think, and coach Boeheim was talking to me about his time with Melo (Carmelo Anthony) when he played there. He described the way he played and the way he thought about the game," Edwards recalled. "When you are young, you feel some pressure when there are 30,000 fans screaming at you, and he said when Melo came in, he was used to the pressure because he was all about the game. He zoned out and locked into what the mission was, and it was all basketball when you are on the court."
Good advice Edwards took to heart.
The pro people like his ability to run the floor and block shots (172 in 85 career games) as his offensive skills continue to evolve. Jesse had 20 points and eight rebounds against Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac in a FIBA game this summer and is most effective finishing around the rim.
"He's as long a rim-runner out of a pick and roll as we've ever had," Eilert said. "Those guys who can handle the ball and throw it up to him are going to rack up a lot of assists with him pressuring the rim."
The big challenge for Edwards will be transitioning from the back of Boeheim's 2-3 zone to West Virginia's man-to-man defense established under Huggins.
Eilert has indicated that he is keeping those successful defensive principles intact this season.
"It's been four years of 2-3 zone and, of course, I played man before that so it's still in there," Edwards explained. "It's getting used to man defense and new play sets, but the basics are still there. It's a lot of help and a lot of ball-screen coverages."
This year's West Virginia roster has taken on sort of a United Nations look with guys from Estonia, Israel, Egypt, and, of course, Edwards from The Netherlands.
The blending of cultures has already been a valuable learning experience for Edwards.
"It's more than at Syracuse, and I think here it's been mostly American players, so it's fun," Edwards said. "Everybody's got different cultures and different backgrounds, but it's jelling well. Nobody has got bad blood with each other or anything like that."
Edwards was born and raised in Amsterdam and didn't come to the United States until IMG Academy found out about him. In the meantime, he said he also played soccer and ran track, demonstrating his all-around athletic skills.
Most of the foreign players who come to the U.S. typically have soccer in their athletic backgrounds. IMG is where his basketball skills began to blossom.
"That got me some exposure and really got me into the college basketball game," Edwards noted. "From there, I got some attention and some offers, and I went to Syracuse."
When he chose to part ways with Syracuse after last season, his three choices boiled down to Gonzaga, Kansas and West Virginia. He ultimately picked West Virginia for the opportunity to play for another hall of fame coach in Huggins.
When that ultimately fell through, his commitment to WVU never wavered.
"The reason I came here and the reason most guys signed up for this was still there because the rest of the guys were here," Edwards said. "It was a winning team and everything that was built up was still there, and it's up to us to carry it into a new era, if you will."
Edwards said he's heard a lot about Big 12 basketball and is anxious to see how he fares against some of the best players and teams in the country.
"I think I've become a pretty solid pick and roll center. That's the way I base my game off and my that's my profile," he said. "I'm expanding my range on offense. I'm really trying to get the most I can get out of my body.
"I wasn't always a rebounder, but I think it's something I've developed with my game. I'm curious to see how it's going to go when we get to the Big 12. I think I will be able to get mine," he said.
Overall, Edwards said he's pleased with how well the team has gotten along so far.
"It's about coming together. You don't want to have a team that's all over the place starting the season," he said.
"It's been surprising for me," he continued. "It's been different than any circumstances I've been in, obviously, but in a way it's kind of brought us together. Everyone was kind of in shock, but we stuck together as a team and the fans online have been really supportive. They are looking forward to the season, and they want to see us win."
Mountaineer Madness this Friday night will be the first opportunity for fans to see Edwards and his teammates on the floor.
The event is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
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