Vic’s Corner – Catching Up With MJ Edwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the high school season heading towards the end in a few weeks, there are still plenty of difference makers for college teams in the state that are unsigned and still looking for opportunities. One of those difference makers is [player_tooltip player_id='1411079' first='MJ' last='Edwards'], a senior PG that will make an impact at the next level. The 5'11 guard from Westchester Country Day has been an impactful player for them so far, and is looking to make a decision on where he'll play next year soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwards is not short of opportunities to play at the next level at this time, having collected a trio of scholarship offers. Johnson and Wales (Charlotte) has offered, as well as Dean College and Carolina Christian College. ODAC and other local D3s are also showing interest, such as Christopher Newport, Shenandoah, Greensboro College, and Carolina University. From the schools that have offered him, he told me that he's a fan of the Johnson and Wales coaching staff, as it seems he and Coach Slade have a great connection already. The potential of playing basketball in a city like Charlotte would also be a huge bonus for him as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Themjedwards/status/1740162353776508973?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Themjedwards/status/1740162353776508973?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to discussing his on-court play, Edwards is the kind of guy you want running your offense all game long. He's able to pick apart defenses with good vision and IQ, but is also able to knock down jumpers, attack the paint and the rim, and work in a more scoring-focused role at times. He feels that he is a difficult scout and matchup because of his varied game, and that if you take away one side of his offense, he can tap into the other side. If teams want to shut his scoring looks down, he'll just get his teammates open and rack up assists. And if teams want to take his shooters and teammates out of the game, he can go score the ball on his own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Themjedwards/status/1742520904163209299?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Themjedwards/status/1742520904163209299?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Admittedly, Edwards knows defense and physicality are the two main weaknesses in his game, which he's been progressing on and working hard to fix. Defensive intensity has been a focal point for him on the court this fall and winter, as he looks to be college-ready in his game, as well as helping get his team stops and trying to turn those possessions into buckets on the other end. He also has been hard at work in the weight room during the summer and fall, developing muscle mass and putting on weight to be more physical, able to guard the ball and not get bumped around on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwards is looking to both have a winning season and chase the ultimate goal of winning a state title with his Westchester Country Day squad. After returning from his stint of high school he spent in the Memphis area, he chose to return to WCDS out of loyalty and a commitment to play for the school that had already given him so much, and he feels he can give back in that sense. Check out Edwards and the rest of his WCDS squad as they finish up in their tough NCISAA Piedmont conference over the next few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->