WVU Basketball Announces Signing of Syracuse Transfer Jesse Edwards

WVU basketball announced the signing of Syracuse transfer big Jesse Edwards on Monday morning, per release. Edwards committed to West Virginia on April 16.

“Obviously, we are excited to have Jesse join our basketball program. We haven’t had a rim protector like Jesse since Sagaba Konate and Derek Culver. We should be able to turn it up more defensively, knowing that we will have a rim protector like Jesse behind you. He can really score and rebound the ball, and he’s a guy we will be able to throw the ball inside to score consistently,” WVU head coach Bob Huggins said.

Edwards (6-foot-11) averaged 14.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks on 59 percent shooting from the field. Edwards was named to the All-ACC Third Team this past season. Edwards has started for the Orange in the past two years. Edwards played seven minutes against West Virginia in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Edwards has one year of eligibility remaining.

Edwards has been regarded as one of the best transfers in the portal this offseason, seeing top-10 and top-5 rankings depending on which site you use. Edwards entered the portal on April 11 and cut his list down to WVU, Gonzaga and Kansas within days. Edwards’ visit to West Virginia was his only one scheduled during his recruitment.

West Virginia also returns starting forward Tre Mitchell to go with Edwards in the frontcourt next season.