Sports

Signs of Success
Part II

• Westover’s Chris Edwards shines on and off the court to earn a full ride to Division I Jacksonville University.

Paul Dehner Jr.

ALBANY —The moment Westover coach Dallis Smith delivered the scholarship paper to Chris Edwards, a proud reality fell over the senior basketball star.

He did it.

Edwards was one stroke of the pen from officially becoming a Division I signee with Jacksonville University.

“It really hit me,” Edwards said. “It really did. As soon as I got it in my hand.”

Edwards, the Patriots shooting guard who averaged 20 points a game this past season, evolved in four years from a skinny freshman shooting guard with questionable academic standing to an unabashed leader destined and determined to complete his college education.

Upon placing his signature on the dotted line, his opportunity is officially in hand.

Few doubted Edwards would become a prolific scorer for Westover after watching him fill it up from every corner of the floor during hisdevelopment, but it has been his work in earning qualification in the classroom that elicited an extra sense of pride as Smith anticipated Wednesday’s signing.

“The first thing coaches ask me about is grades,” Smith said. “It makes me proud when they asked about Chris to tell them,‘no problem.’ About a year ago he really matured and turned the corner. Now the teachers all love Chris. He worked hard and deserves it.”

What he’s signing up for is a full ride to one of the up-and-coming programs in the Atlantic Sun. Also persued by Southeast Louisanna and Campbell University, Edwards chose a program that finished runner-up to Belmont in the conference tournament finals.

“He’s a perfect fit,” Smith said. “They do a lot of coming off picks, pushing the ball. They know what he is capable of doing. Their coach has really turned that program around.”

Belmont advanced to push Duke to the limit in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

“I liked the ADs, coaching staff and the environment,” said Edwards, who visited over spring break. “I followed them all the time this year. They got some good players. I am going to work hard to try and get some playing time.”

With the same effort on the field, however, Edwards plans on his habits in the classroom carrying with him across the border.

“I had to show I could do the schoolwork,” he said. “It was a real challenge. Now I really want to graduate from college.”

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