Jesse Edwards

Born in Amsterdam, Edwards moved to the United States to attend IMG Academy before heading to college. He played four seasons at Syracuse and was named to the All-ACC Third-Team and ACC All-Defensive Team in 2023. However, he transferred to West Virginia for his final collegiate campaign. In 23 appearances (22 starts) as a Mountaineer, Edwards averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.7 blocks in 28.3 minutes per game. He shot an efficient 61.3 percent from the field but struggled at the free-throw line, making only 52.3 percent of his attempts. Edwards also suited up for the Netherlands senior team during World Cup qualifying and Eurobasket in 2022. At just under seven feet tall, Edwards has a large frame, which he uses to excel at clearing space on post-ups, setting screens and grabbing rebounds. He is not a natural scorer but has great energy, allowing him to score on putbacks and lobs. Edwards has good patience and decent footwork in the paint but lacks an elite touch around the rim. He was able to block shots at a high rate and didn't commit many fouls in college, showing good defensive discipline, but there'll likely be a learning curve on both ends of the court at the professional level. An undersized center who excels at rebounding and finishing lobs, Edwards draws comparisons to Dwight Powell, Brandon Clarke and Trayce Jackson-Davis. All three of those guys have carved out solid NBA roles after being older prospects taken outside of the lottery. Edwards has the potential to do the same, it's just a matter of if he falls into the right situation.