Previous Rank: 45

-Edwards’ mid/late season surge as a dynamic floor general was crucial to him earning All-IAC 1st team honors en route to Georgetown Prep’s conference championship season. Edwards sets himself up well to come off of ball screens by using his eyes to manipulate the defense or retreat dribbles to set up better angles to his spots in the halfcourt. Edwards’ scoring gravity opened up his passing options and he showed an ability to fit a flurry of different passes into tight windows in the half court to beat double teams and set his teammates up for easy buckets. Loved the fire that he played with, fighting through contact in the paint to draw FTs with increasing regularity to buoy his offensive performances throughout the season.

26p 6r 3a 1s 8/11 FG 3/4 3P

-Edwards continued a hot streak with 9 straight games scoring 19+ as his team fights through some injury issues in the dog days of the season. Edwards started things off with a paint pullup short jumper, caught a SLOB release and immediately got downhill to score with the left before the defense could recover, lifted to top of key for a pair of C+S 3’s off movement in the 1H, hit a pull up 2 in transition to start off the 2H scoring, executed a well-timed crosscourt skip to a corner shooter from the paintpaint, set a backpick then came off the screen to hit another 3 to put his team up 5 just under 2 mins 4Q, and snagged a defensive board to then race it 94 feet to draw a foul and hit two FTs. His command over the pace of the game was an impressive development to see live, as he vacillated well between creating his own shot and moving the ball to facilitate the GP offense.

Bruiser has been a reliable piece in the Georgetown Prep backcourt this season, and his stock is rising because his scoring has become more efficient and controlled. He can stretch the floor with the deep jumper, but his greatest attribute is how well he scores when he gets two feet in the paint. Edwards consistently collapses defenses with his physicality and plays through contact. Once he’s inside he can either finish or make the right dish depending on the help. He’s also been effective in transition, getting downhill quickly and forcing defenders to react early. Through the first half of the season, Bruiser has continued to show that his game translates because of how consistently he can generate paint touches and make the right play.

I was quite impressed with the performance Bruiser put out this weekend at IAC/MAC. Took him a quarter or two to hit his scoring stride, but he was all over the floor making plays beforehand. His defense on the ball-handler caught my attention as well, rare to see him get beat defensively or give up on a play. Came away with a tong of rebounds that started giving him the opportunity to start taking the ball coast to coast against the struggling defense. Bruiser  had a lot of non-scoring plays where he got two feet into the paint and found an assist somewhere on the floor. After a first half of distribution and a couple three-balls, he became and absolute blur in transition. Flew by defenders repeatedly to continue pouring on to their big second half lead. Bruiser  has an incredible sense for when to score the ball and when to attack with intentions to create offense. Another premier showing from the star junior guard.

Evan was named to the All-Tournament Team. Was by far the Little Hoyas most consistent player throughout the three-day event. It should probably go without saying, but everything starts and ends with Evan Edwards. Between his incredible production and leadership by example, it’s difficult to say anything other than positives. At 6-foot, Edwards is a polished, refined player. He’s smart, quick, and has the ball on a string, which allows him to get wherever he wants off the bounce. Edwards is a reliable creator, both for himself and others, and quality decision-maker with the ball in his hands. Also showed he could knock down the 3 going 3-7 in the third-place game against Archbishop Wood to finish with 14 points.

14p 4a 2r 2s 5/7 FG 1/2 3P 3/4 FT vs SJP

-Edwards started the game with several successful drives to the rim, was throwing lobs in transition to his bigs, drawing 2 and finding teammates in the halfcourt, and taking care of the rock. Loved the pace and confidence that he played with, especially in the 2Q, as he is starting to pick his spots in a pretty deep but young backcourt for Coach Blue and co. Edwards saved his best for last with a huge middle drive and lob to the big, then a baseline floater that went through the net late in the game to seal the win and advance to the next round in the Gonzaga Classic.

Evan “Bruiser” Edwards is a tough and gritty point guard who played a pivotal role in Georgetown Prep’s competitive matchup and against Saint Joseph’s. Standing at 6-0, Edwards showcased his leadership and determination, willing his team to a hard-fought victory. His efficient scoring—finishing with 14 points on 5-7 shooting from inside the arc and connecting on 1 of 2 attempts from beyond the three-point line—highlights his ability to contribute offensively. Edwards’ relentless drive and poise under pressure make him a standout floor general, capable of making key plays when his team needs them most.

Bruiser brings real value to a team through his high motor, rugged defensive presence, and unselfish mentality. Edwards utilizes his quickness to contain opposing ball-handlers and force turnovers at a nice rate. Next in his development process is working on his consistency as a three-point shooter, as it would make him a more dynamic offensive threat. Edwards consistently found ways to make an impact during camp and should only continue to progress over the coming years.

Edwards is coming off a productive summer with Global Squad where he developed as a confident primary creator on the ball both for himself and others. That theme remained in Sunday’s showing as he consistently beat his man off the dribble to get into the paint and make things happen from there. His processing and anticipation skills allow him to make the right read in split-second situations. He finished with both hands around the rim, utilized soft touch on his floaters and made weakside defenders pay by zipping passes cross court for open shots. Edwards is a stout on-ball defender that can cause havoc and did his due diligence on the glass as well.

-Edwards uses his pivot really effectively in the paint to find the best passing angles and is adept at getting two feet in the paint to create for his teammates both in the halfcourt and in transition. The handle has also tightened quite a bit to cut down on turnovers in PnR’s and double teams, allowing him to see passing reads better and keep his team in their offensive flow. I like that he’s making the simple play and not going for the home run on his passing reads in the halfcourt, cutting down on deflected passes and keeping him on the floor for longer stretches. His ability to find your team a good shot operating at the top of the key makes him a valuable piece moving forward for a G Prep team that graduated 4 starters and several rotation pieces.