WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue junior Carsen Edwards has been named the top returning player in college basketball for the 2018-19 season according to NCAA March Madness.
Edwards, a 6-foot, 1-inch junior from Atascocita, Texas, earned the nod after an outstanding sophomore season, helping the Boilermakers to a 30-7 overall record and a spot in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season.
Edwards is one of four Big Ten players mentioned in the list via NCAA’s Andy Katz (Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ – No. 4; Indiana’s Juwan Morgan – No. 12; Nebraska’s James Palmer Jr. – No. 13). Kyle Guy (Virginia), Happ, Nevada’s Caleb Martin and North Carolina’s Luke Maye were Nos. five through two, respectively.
Edwards was named a second-team All-America honoree from the NABC and a third-team honoree from both The Sporting News and AP following the 2017-18 season en route to winning the Jerry West Award as the nation’s best shooting guard. He is one of three active players to return that have been named All-American (Guy and Maye — both third-team honorees) by one of the four major organizations.
Edwards led the Boilermakers in scoring at 18.5 points per game, while contributing 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, shooting 97 of 239 (.406) from long distance. His 686 points a year ago were the most by a sophomore, and the 10th most in a season in school history. Edwards is one of just seven players in school history to have scored 1,000 points in his first two seasons on the hardwood and his 97 triples last year were the second most in a season in school history.
Edwards’ 1,046 career points are the 12th most for an active player nationally through his sophomore season. His 686 points last year were the ninth most nationally for a freshman or sophomore and he was one of six underclassmen to have 650 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists.
He is the only player in Purdue history to have 650 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in the same season.
Edwards was at his best late in the season, averaging 21.1 points per game in 13 games played after February 1. He tallied 40 points in a win over Illinois in late February and 30 against Texas Tech in the Sweet 16, while averaging 20.5 points per game in six postseason games. He scored in double-figures in 20 straight games to end the season, surpassing 20 points in nine games.
Edwards and the Boilermakers open the regular season Nov. 6, when Fairfield visits Mackey Arena. Season tickets are available by calling the Purdue Athletics Ticket Office at 800.49SPORT or online at PurdueSports.com.
