Edwards follows successful path from Middletown to Purdue


Vince Edwards file

Birthday: April 5, 1996

Major: Organizational leadership and supervision

Class: Sophomore

Size: 6-foot-8, 225 pounds

Position: Forward

2015-16 statistics: 13 games, 13 starts; 8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.4 steals per game; 44.2 percent on field goals, 33.3 percent on 3-pointers, 75.0 percent on free throws

2014-15 statistics: 33 games, 29 starts; 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 blocks, 0.4 steals per game; 48.2 percent on field goals, 32.6 percent on 3-pointers, 78.8 percent on free throws

Ultimately, it’s a juggling act.

It’s school and basketball and fatherhood and anything else that comes with being a 19-year-old, and Vince Edwards isn’t complaining. The journey is his. He owns it.

The 2014 Middletown High School graduate is a sophomore on the Purdue University men’s basketball team, ranked 14th nationally in the latest Associated Press poll. Edwards has started every game this season and all but four games since he arrived here.

“College basketball is everything I imagined it would be,” Edwards said. “You really have to dedicate yourself to school and ball because you can get lost sometimes. You’ve got to keep your priorities straight. You have to know it’s God, family, school and basketball.

“You always question things when times get tough. You’re not always going to understand it at that time, but you can always push and get through it.”

This is a Purdue team that was expected to be loaded this season under 11th-year coach Matt Painter. The Boilermakers lost just one starter and brought in a senior and four talented freshmen, including Indiana Mr. Basketball Caleb Swanigan.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Swanigan and the 6-8, 225-pound Edwards were invited to try out for the Under-19 Team USA unit that was headed for the FIBA World Championship event in Greece last summer. Edwards didn’t make the final cut and Swanigan did, and he helped the Americans go 7-0 and capture the gold medal with a 79-71 win over Croatia.

“I took a lot out of it,” Edwards said. “It was nice just being with my actual age for once. As your own biggest critic, you always feel like you can do everything better. But me and Coach Painter talked about it, and we all felt like I did what I could do. We both felt I should’ve made that team, but it is what it is. They kept the team they wanted, it was a good coaching staff, and they did a good job of winning the gold medal.”

Once the Boilermakers came together later in the summer, it was clear to everyone that Purdue could be something special in 2015-16.

The team got off to an 11-0 start before losing to Butler last weekend. The Boilermakers rebounded with a 68-55 victory over Vanderbilt, and they’ll begin Big Ten Conference play at Wisconsin on Tuesday night.

“We’ve got athleticism. We’ve got shooters. We’ve got slashers. We’ve got guys that can do it all,” Edwards said. “We know we can make a Final Four run if we put our minds to it.”

His role on the team has changed a bit this season. Edwards was the No. 4 last year, manning a power forward position that was familiar to him. He played it at Middletown.

Now he’s the No. 3, a small forward/wing with a dual inside/outside role.

“Having the guys we have this year has allowed me to move out to the wing, which is more comfortable for me,” Edwards said. “I’m the guy that can help do a little bit of everything. Coach Painter always likes to describe me as a Swiss Army knife, and I like when he says that about me.”

Edwards is averaging 8.9 points per game, ranking fifth on the squad. Purdue is marked by balance. There are 10 players who average 14 minutes or more per contest, and they’re averaging between 13.3 and 4.4 points a game.

“Our balance gets created because the two 7-footers (senior A.J. Hammons and sophomore Isaac Haas) have really shot the ball well,” Painter said. “From a scouting report standpoint, I think it’s hard on the opposition because I think we’ve got a handful of guys that can get 20 points on a given night.”

He likes his Swiss Army knife and the matchup problems he can create.

“Probably the thing that jumps out for Vince is his versatility,” Painter said. “He’s got the ability to rebound. He can post up some. He can make threes. He can play off the bounce. He can really pass the basketball. And he’s a good decision maker.”

Edwards feels he’s a better player this year, a more confident, well-rounded player. But he admitted some lapses in focus have hurt him.

“I feel like I’ve floated in and out of some games this year,” Edwards said. “The No. 1 thing I need to work on is staying engaged and putting energy into every little thing on the court. I have rare times when everything clicks together, and it shows in the stats.”

Practices are daily wars with the stable of talent Purdue possesses.

“Teams are matched up evenly in practice, and I think that helps us the most,” Edwards said. “It’s physical. It’s tough. It’s gritty. It’s dirty. It’s great practice. You can kind of take it out on each other.”

He loves playing in Mackey Arena, a venue he calls one of the best in the country. He also appreciates Painter’s coaching style and up-front personality.

Edwards remains a Middie at heart and thinks often about his prep days. He regularly watches videos of himself playing at Wade E. Miller Gym.

“To see that time fly by, it’s unreal,” Edwards said. “I reminisce a lot. I’m always proud to be a Middie.”

He played for Bob Ronai, Josh Andrews and Mark Baker at Middletown. All three made a lasting impact on him.

“Coach Ronai, the one thing I really liked about him was that he really taught you how to value every possession,” Edwards said. “When Coach Andrews came in, he was a real humble guy, a religious guy, and tried to do everything the right way. He wanted us to do everything right. He did a good job of keeping us together.

“Coach Baker was more of an up-tempo, get-up-and-down type of coach. When you’re playing for Coach Baker, it’s really fun because all he wants to do is play.”

Edwards — who lives with senior Johnny Hill, along with juniors Basil Smotherman and Kendall Stephens — is majoring in organizational leadership and supervision, though he’s not locked in to a certain career path beyond wanting to play basketball at the next level.

He said the academic load isn’t easy, but noted that athletes get plenty of help and guidance.

“As an athlete, you literally have to fail yourself out of college,” Edwards said. “With your coaches and staff and academic advisers, they do everything in their power to make sure that you’re tutored if you need it. You’re either meeting with your coach and your academic adviser every week. They make sure you have all the resources.”

He’s had to grow up quickly off the court. Edwards has a son, Trace, who turned 1 on July 31.

Some might view that kind of responsibility as a burden at his age, but Edwards doesn’t see it that way.

“Of course it’s something that you didn’t plan for at this stage of life, but it happened and he’s here, and I wake up and just thank God that I have him,” he said. “He’s been such an influence and blessing in my life. He’s a happy kid. Having him smiling and healthy, that’s all I can ask for. When I have tough times, I just think about him, and it helps me push through.”

Edwards likes to keep up with what’s going on back home in Middletown, and he knows people are paying attention to what he’s doing at Purdue. They’re both special places to him.

“I’m not just representing Middletown anymore. I’m representing Purdue as well,” Edwards said. “Carrying that around is a good feeling, and knowing that I’m making everybody back at home proud is an even better feeling.”

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