WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue rising junior Vincent Edwards has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft and will return to Purdue for the 2016-17 season.
"We are excited that Vince is returning for his junior year. The feedback he received in his workouts will only help him continue to improve and become one of the best players in the Big Ten in the upcoming season," head coach Matt Painter said.
Edwards, a 6 foot 8, 225-pound forward from Middletown, Ohio, is one of the country's most-versatile players. He ranked second the team in scoring (11.3 PPG), third in rebounding (5.4 RPG) and first in assists (100), while also leading the team in 3-pointers made (46) and finishing the season third in free throw percentage (.820). He scored in double-figures in eight straight games to end the season, averaging 15.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 2.8 APG during that span. Over the final two games of the season, the Big Ten Conference title game against Michigan State and the NCAA Tournament first-round contest against Little Rock, Edwards averaged 21.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG.
In two career NCAA Tournament games, Edwards has averaged 19.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 4.0 APG.
Edwards is one of just three freshmen or sophomores nationally to have scored 650 career points, grabbed 325 career rebounds and dished out 175 career assists, joining Oregon's Dillon Brooks and Connecticut's Daniel Hamilton on the list. He is also 1-of-2 Purdue players in school history to reach those marks by the end of his sophomore season (E'Twaun Moore).
"After getting the NBA experience and going through the evaluation process, I have talked with my family and Coach Painter and decided it is best for me to return for my junior year. Although the NBA is still a dream for me one day, I am coming back to Purdue to make next year a special one. Thank you to all the organizations who gave me the chance to not only showcase my talents, but also the chance to know me as a young man and not just an athlete," said Edwards.
Purdue is coming off a 26-9 season and was one of 10 teams nationally to be ranked in the nation's top 25 all season. The Boilermakers finished tied for third in the Big Ten Conference with a 12-6 record.
