By Patrick Walsh
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Third-team All-ACC forward Jesse Edwards is set to visit West Virginia University on April 14, just three days after entering the transfer portal.
Edwards, a native of Amsterdam, Netherlands, went to high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and was a four-star recruit. He committed to Syracuse over Georgia Tech in 2019.
Edwards took over the starting role after Marek Dolezaj left to go play in Europe at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. He averaged 12 points per game, 2.7 blocks and 6.5 rebounds per game before a broken wrist ended his junior campaign.
In his senior year, Edwards returned with a vengeance averaging a double-double per game along with finishing seventh in Division 1 with 2.7 blocks per game. His greatest performance in an Orange uniform came on senior day, in which he dropped 27 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.
In 2022, the Syracuse Orange finished 17-15 and lost in the first round of the ACC Tournament to Wake Forest. Jim Boeheim announced his retirement hours after the game concluded and Adrian Autry was named head coach shortly after. The Orange have seen Judah Mintz test the waters of the NBA draft, as well as Joe Girard enter the portal.
The Mountaineers featured a three-man rotation at the five spot. Jimmy Bell, James Okonkwo and Mohamed Wague all saw significant time in the position. Between the three of them, they averaged 11.4 of the team’s 76 points per game. Both Okonkwo and Wague are projected to return for Bob Huggins in the 2023-24 season.
In the 2021 NCAA tournament, Syracuse matched up with WVU in the Round of 32. Edwards subbed in for Dolezaj when he saw foul trouble early and grabbed two rebounds in seven minutes, but racked up four fouls in that span.
Foul trouble has been an Achilles’ heel for Jesse, who saw him receive at least four fouls in 13 games this year. This includes the five times he fouled out.
Edwards has one year of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA allowing players to have an extra year with the pandemic. Manhattan transfer Jose Perez is set to host the visit. Edwards has also received interest from 13 other schools, including LSU, Kansas State, Michigan and Gonzaga.
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