Name Richie Edwards Pro career 2014 NBA draft 2014 / Undrafted Weight 100 kg | Listed weight 210 lb (95 kg) Height 2.01 m Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Role Basketball player | |
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Education | ||
Nationality American / New Zealand | ||
Justin Richard "Richie" Edwards (born June 30, 1990) is an American-New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the Plymouth Raiders of the British Basketball League (BBL).
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Early life
Edwards was born in Albany, New York to parents Johnathan and Debbie Edwards. At a young age, he moved with his missionary parents to Christchurch, New Zealand. There he attended the basketball-focused Middleton Grange School, where he graduated from in 2007.
Prep school
In 2008–09, Edwards attended Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland, Florida for a prep season. He went on to earn first-team All-State honors with the Dreadnaughts. He was also honored as the county Player of the Year and the Lakeland Ledger Player of the Year after averaging 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
College career
From 2009 to 2011, Edwards attended Hillsborough CC. In his two seasons for the Hawks, he was a two-time All-Conference selection. As a freshman, he averaged 16 points and seven rebounds per game, and as a sophomore, he averaged 18.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
In 2011, Edwards transferred to Valparaiso University. As a junior in 2011–12, he was a role player for the Crusaders, coming off the bench to record 12 double-figure scoring games. In 30 games, he averaged 9.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game.
In 2012, Edwards transferred to Arizona State University and subsequently sat out the 2012–13 season due to NCAA transfer rules. As a senior in 2013–14, he played just 15 games for the Sun Devils, averaging 2.5 points in 6.7 minutes per game.
Professional career
On March 24, 2014, Edwards signed with the Canterbury Rams for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season. He was named the recipient of the New Zealand NBL Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17 games.
On October 29, 2014, Edwards signed with the Adelaide 36ers as an injury-replacement for Mitch Creek. On November 21, 2014, he was released by the 36ers following Creek's return. In three games for the 36ers, he averaged 1.7 points per game. On February 8, 2015, he re-signed with the Rams for the 2015 season. In 18 games for the Rams in 2015, he averaged 17.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
On October 10, 2015, Edwards signed with the Plymouth Raiders for the rest of the 2015–16 British Basketball League season in place of the outgoing Bennie Lewis. However, he was released by the club on November 7 due to his "flagrant disregard for club rules, and for serious off court issues". Both he and teammate B. J. Anthony had their contracts terminated after demonstrating poor behaviour off the court. He managed just two games for Plymouth, averaging 17.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
National team career
Edwards became one of the youngest Junior Tall Blacks when he debuted at just 14 years old in 2005. At the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship, he averaged 14.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. At the 2011 World University Games, he led New Zealand in scoring and finished third among all tournament players, averaging 20.1 points per game.