Edwards Selected 52nd By Utah Jazz; Traded to Rockets

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Vince Edwards fulfilled a childhood dream late Thursday night as the Utah Jazz selected the Purdue forward in the second round with the 52nd overall pick in the NBA Draft held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The pick was then traded to the Houston Rockets as Edwards became the 49th Boilermaker all-time to be selected in the NBA Draft.
It also marks the third straight year that a Purdue player has been selected in the NBA Draft. The last time that occurred came from 1974 to 1984 when a Boilermaker was selected in 11 straight drafts.
Edwards becomes the seventh player during the Matt Painter era to be drafted, joining Carl Landry (2007; 31), JaJuan Johnson (2011; 27), E’Twaun Moore (2011; 55), Robbie Hummel (2012; 58), A.J. Hammons (2016; 46) and Caleb Swanigan (2017; 26).
Edwards finished his Purdue career ranked 15th in points (1,638), eighth in rebounds (779), 11th in 3-pointers made (173), 10th in 3-point attempts (441), 14th in 3-point percentage (.392), 10th in free throw percentage (.820), 11th in assists (403), fifth in games played (138), second in games started (126) and second in minutes played (3,957).
He wrapped up his career as one of three players in college basketball over the last 25 years with 1,600 points, 750 rebounds, 400 assists and 170 3-pointers (Tulane’s Jerald Honeycutt – 1994-97; Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine – 2013-16) and is the only player in school history with 1,500 career points, 700 rebounds and 300 career assists (he had 403).
Edwards was at his best in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 16.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in eight NCAA Tournament games, shooting 53 of 101 (.525) from the field. He was one of three players in school history to have at least 90 assists in all four seasons, and the first to do so in 40 years, joining point guards Eugene Parker (1975-78) and Bruce Parkinson (1973-75, 77).
Edwards arrived at Purdue in the fall of 2014 as the 124th-ranked recruit, according to Rivals.com. He becomes the lowest-ranked Painter recruit to be drafted and is the third recruit of the Painter era to be drafted that ranked outside the Rivals top 50 (Robbie Hummel, 75; A.J. Hammons, 77; Vince Edwards, 124).
Edwards joins Jim Rowinski (1984; 86th pick) as Purdue players to be selected by the Utah Jazz.