Richie Edwards

Background

Edwards was born in Albany, New York to parents Johnathan and Debbie Edwards.

Education

At a young age, he moved with his missionary parents to Christchurch, where he attended the basketball-focused Middleton Grange School where he graduated from in 2007. In 2008-2009, Edwards attended Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland, Florida for a prep season. From 2009 to 2011, Edwards attended Hillsborough Central Committee.

Career

Preparatory school

He went on to earn first-team All-State honors with the Dreadnaughts. In his two seasons for the Hawks, he was a two-time All-Conference selection. As a freshman, he averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds per game.

And as a sophomore, he averaged 18.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

In 2011, he transferred to Valparaiso University. In his junior season at Valparaiso, he was a role player for the Crusaders, coming of 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, he transferred to Arizona State University and subsequently sat out the 2012-2013 season due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules.

In his senior season, he played just 15 games for the Sun Devils, averaging 2.5 points in 6.7 minutes per game.

On March 24, 2014, Edwards signed with the Canterbury Rams for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season. 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 club following the return of Creek from injury.

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, 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 2015-2016 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. Edwards became one of the youngest Junior Tall Blacks when he debuted at just 14 years old in 2005. At the 2009 International Basketball Federation 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.

Achievements

• 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. In 17 games for the Rams, he averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game as he earned the league"s Rookie of the Year award.