Providence Crier Player Preview Series: Second Time is a Charm for Jason Edwards and the Friars

In 2024 transfer portal Kim English and staff targeted North Texas guard Jason Edwards. He started his collegiate career at the JUCO level with Dodge City Community College where he would be a NJCAA 1st team All-American and was the second highest scorer in JUCO. He would find his way to UNT where he quickly assimilate himself as the best player for the Mean Green earning 1st team All-AAC honors. After proving himself at the D1 level Edwards would enter the portal and Providence was one of his suitors. He would instead opt to transfer to Vanderbilt University.

Despite another jump in competition Edwards’ game hardly fell off. He would lead the Commodores in scoring with 17 ppg, earning 3rd team All-SEC honors, and helped lead Vandy to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017. Once again Edwards would enter into the portal and this time Kim English got his guy.

Jason Edwards gives the Friars something they were entirely lacking last season and that’s a go-to scorer. Bryce Hopkins was supposed to be that go-to scorer last season and once he hung em up for the season PC struggled to find a consistent scorer. Jason Edwards will be that for PC. Edwards is a good shooter with a quick release and his ball quickness combined with his creative finishing makes him a terror for opposing defenses. Edwards is a professional scorer and he knows how to create contact and get to the charity stripe, where he shot 83% at last season.

Edwards isn’t a pure point but he did plan on working on his playmaking for others this offseason which will only make him a more rounded player. Edwards isn’t known for his defense but he did have 10 steals over his final 5 games at Vanderbilt so it’s probably not due to a lack of effort.

You can pencil him in for at the least 25 minutes a game and the scoring will follow. We envision a guy will play on and off ball , either way it’s going to find his hands. Edwards had no problem scoring in a league as talented as the SEC was last year. Playing in Kim’s offense Edwards will surely be in the race for leading scorer in conference.