‘He can rise up and shoot over anybody.’ Gamecocks offer versatile, in-state big man
Cesare Edwards and Trae Hannibal were teammates at Hartsville High School. Now there’s a possibility the two can be reunited in college.
Hannibal completed his freshman season at South Carolina and the Gamecocks just offered Edwards, the 6-foot-10 class of 2021 prospect, on Wednesday. The junior has been on USC’s radar for quite a while.
Edwards is the second in-state player the Gamecocks offered within the last week. Legacy Charter guard Jacobi Wright was offered Friday. But the Gamecocks aren’t the only SEC school with interest in Edwards. Florida also offered on Wednesday. He also has offers from Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Clemson, Xavier and Virginia Commonwealth among others. Hartsville coach Yusef English said Kansas and North Carolina also have expressed interest in Edwards.
Edwards’ mom graduated from South Carolina. He has been the school a couple times for unofficial visits and attended been to about five or six basketball and football games.
“The main thing that stood out about their program is the intensity on defense,” Edwards said. “Trae (Hannibal) has pretty much told me how much he enjoys being around the team and all the hard work.. Right now, I don’t have any favorites . I’m just really blessed to have these opportunities. My family and I are really grateful and enjoying the recruiting process.”
247Sports ranks Edwards as No. 143 on his Class of 2021 prospects. Rivals recruiting analyst Corey Evans wrote about Edwards earlier this month and called him an under-the-radar prospect who was in line for a big summer on the travel circuit if things go back to normal after the coronavirus.
Edwards plays AAU basketball for Upward Stars on the adidas circuit.
“Edwards can extend the defense with the perimeter jumper, has a soft touch on the hook jumper over his left shoulder, good hands on the glass and fine instincts as a rebounder and shot blocker. There is not much that he cannot do and while he does need to polish various portions of his game, the progress he has made over the past 12 months and body of work that he has put together is more than intriguing,” Evans said.
Edwards, who was on varsity as a freshman, had a big junior season and averaged 15.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.3 assists this season. English said Edwards was inconsistent for the first half of the season, but his turning point came against Marlboro County on Jan. 28. In that game, he scored 29 points, had 19 rebounds, nine blocks and two assists in the 58-54 loss.
Edwards scored 20 points or more in four of the Red Foxes’ final five games. He also had 20 or more rebounds in two different games.
“He’s always had the ability. The fire and light switch went off for him. Up until that Marlboro County game, his season was up and down,” English said. “In that game and for the rest of the year, he showed he was the best thing on the floor, win or lose.”
English said Edwards’ game reminds him of NBA star Kevin Durant because of his ability to handle the ball and shoot from the outside with his 6-foot-10 frame. He shot 44% from the field.
Edwards also is the strongest player on the team and squats more than 500 pounds.
“He can rise up and shoot over anybody. He has textbook form. If you are teaching a kid how to shoot, his form is what you want to study. He is the best shooter I have ever coached,” English said. “He can play three different positions and has played five for us. He is still growing and I think he can have offers from most major schools before it is all over with.”
The Gamecocks have one senior on next year’s roster in Seventh Woods, but more spots might open up with additional attrition.
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 7:46 PM.
