Published: May 06, 2007 12:35 pm      

Jonathan Edwards signs with Asbury College

Somerset — Southwestern High School senior Jonathan Edwards made the decision to take his basketball skills to the next level.

He will make the hour-and-a-half migration north on 27 to trade in the blue and orange of Warrior nation for the purple and white of the Asbury College Eagles next fall.

Edwards signed a national letter of intent in the library at Southwestern on Monday to make his decision official.

“It’s been a dream of his to play at the next level,” Southwestern head coach David Schulz said. “That dream has become a reality because he put in a lot of hard work – they’re getting a quality player.”

Edwards is joining an Asbury program that has just collected their seventh consecutive winning season, 22-11 last season with five losses coming to NCAA Div. 1 competition, under the tutelage of head coach Jim Aller.

Aller has been the coach of the year for the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference twice over his tenure including the ’06,’07 season. His 12 seasons as the Eagles head coach is the most among active coaches at a four-year college in the state.

Edwards, recruited as a shooter, will take his 1,669 career points, 13 per game, to the Eagles knowing that adjusting to the college game will take some time.

“Obviously defense at the next level is that much more important,” commented Edwards. “I would like to improve my lateral defensive quickness so that I can contribute on both ends of the floor.”

The Eagles return their entire ’06,’07 squad, and will add an outside threat with Edwards as well as an inside presence from fellow Region 12 athlete Keith Price of Casey County. Asbury also signed Sayre High School’s guard Dee Smith.

Asbury’s ’07,’08 recruiting class will have to battle for playing time among a veteran group of returning athletes including a pair of NCCAA all-Americans in KIAC player of the year Brett Johnson at forward and second team KIAC performer Derek Bland at guard.

“We really needed to add a shooter this year,” Aller added. “We struggled shooting the ball last season. (Edwards) is a really good shooter, and there is always room for a shooter.”

Every basketball season at Asbury starts with positions wide open in practice so, with hard work, it is possible to earn playing time as a freshman.

Southwestern teammate Casey Dalton signed with Alice Lloyd College which is also in the KIAC so Dalton and Edwards will face each other at least twice per year.

Edwards, having already played with the guys at Asbury in a few pick-up games during his visits, commented that it’s a lot like Southwestern in that there is a great group of guys on the team.

“I am really excited about attending Asbury,” added Edwards. “It’s a great campus and a great atmosphere. I am ready to jump in to help the program all I can and get a good education at a school like Asbury.”