BJ Edwards’ desire to become a two-time state champion
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BVM) — BJ Edwards is the fourth-best player in Tennessee and the 88th best in the country on Rivals for the 2022 class, yet basketball was his third favorite sport growing up.
“I liked football,” Edwards said. “I was a football guy.”
As Edwards got older, he started to excel on the hardwood. He decided to give up football and baseball after earning a scholarship offer for basketball from the University of South Alabama in eighth grade.
“That really made me sit down and think that I can have a future with basketball,” Edwards said. “It shocked me, but it let me know that I have to keep working and more colleges are gonna look for me, so I just really had to take the game more serious and have fun with the game at the same time.”
After eighth grade, Edwards decided it was the right move to leave Johnson City, Tenn. and move an hour and a half southwest to Knoxville, Tenn. in pursuit of an athletic career at Knoxville Catholic High School.
The move paid off early on for Edwards, who led the Fighting Irish to a state championship in his sophomore year over Briarcrest and five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler. Edwards was a runner up to Chandler for the Tennessee Mr. Basketball award that year, but Edwards got the final laugh with the state title victory. Edwards averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 five assists throughout the playoffs, winning tournament MVP.
In the championship game, Edwards finished with a statline of 14 points, 8 rebounds, and four assists, while holding one of the nation’s top guards to 13 points.
State champions 💍love the guys couldn’t have done it without them ‼️Back2Back .. coming soon 👀 pic.twitter.com/k9OaqwBcEl
— Brian Edwards Jr (@BJ_Edwards5) March 8, 2020
“Having all of those practices all year long paid off,” said Edwards. “Just winning state felt really good.”
Edwards was able to take the next step this season as a junior, ultimately winning the Tennessee Mr. Basketball award. Edwards averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game and led the Fighting Irish to a 21-4 record. However, in the eyes of Edwards, the season was a bit of a disappointment after Knoxville Catholic’s loss in the semifinal game to Montgomery Bell Academy.
“Without winning state, I just don’t feel good about winning Mr. Basketball,” Edwards said. “It’s a good accomplishment for myself and I’m proud of myself for that, but my teammates don’t get that feeling of winning state again.”
Edwards is already getting prepared to bounce back for his senior campaign by working out with a guy very familiar to people in Knoxville, Jordan Bowden. Bowden spent four years at the University of Tennessee scoring 1,365 points, 24th all-time in school history.
Bowden is currently playing for the Long Island Nets in the G-League averaging 7.8 points per game and shooting 36% from the three-point line.
“Seeing his work ethic and how much he puts into it, lets me know how much it takes to get there,” Edwards said. “I just watch how hard he goes and how he doesn’t take any reps off, because there’s always someone else out there that may be doing more than you.”
Outside of Edwards wanting to improve on the court, with his routine of lifting and putting up 500 shots a day, he is also hoping to emerge as a leader in the locker room for his final season in high school.
“Next year I’m gonna be a senior, so I have to keep the young guys ready and keep them focused,” Edwards said.
When choosing where he is going to play post-high school, he is prioritizing what college fits him best and gives him the best opportunity to succeed.
“I’m looking for a college that can develop me and develop my position to get me NBA-ready,” Edwards said. “I’d like a coach that stays on top of everything and pushes me and motivates me everyday.”
Edwards still has a while before he has to make a commitment. In the meantime, he is going to do everything he can to win the Mr. Basketball award again and more importantly, win another state title.
