The newest member of the Valparaiso University men’s basketball program has fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing at the Division-I level.

And in doing so, Nick Edwards (Atlanta, Ga. / Grayson [Glenville State]) will bolster head coach Matt Lottich’s roster with an experienced point guard who led the NCAA Division-II nation in assists per game at the time he went down with an injury this past season.

“This means a lot,” Edwards said. “All of the hard work that I’ve put in at the JUCO and Division-II levels has paid off with the opportunity to play D1. It’s a blessing to finally get the chance to play at this level. Coach Lottich and his staff saw something in me and told me I was really special. They talked to me every day and made me feel wanted. I knew Valpo was home.”

Edwards was named the Mountain East Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 20 of this past season after posting a triple-double with 19 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds in a game against Villa Maria. He was one of eight players in the Division-II nation with a triple-double during the 2021-2022 season.

“Nick is a true point guard with a pass-first mentality,” Lottich said. “He has experience and a competitive spirit that aligns with what we’re trying to do. He’s excited to be at Valpo. In a lot of ways, this has fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing D1 basketball. Nick is about one thing, and that’s winning. That’s important, and that’s something we wanted to identify. He’ll fit in and compete for minutes. We’re excited to have him join our program.”

Edwards was limited to 11 games in 2021-22 due to a foot injury and averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists per contest. Edwards began his collegiate career at Northwest Mississippi Community College before transferring to Palm Beach State for his second season of junior college basketball. After scoring 15.4 points per game in his second JUCO season, Edwards selected NCAA Division-II Glenville State in Glenville, W.V, where he spent the last two seasons.

In his spare time, Edwards enjoys playing NBA 2K on PlayStation 5. He also described himself as a “wing fanatic,” with his preference being either honey barbeque or lemon pepper. His cousin is Champ Bailey, who was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection during his NFL career that spanned from 1999-2014.

Edwards, a sport management major, played his high school ball at Grayson in Atlanta, where he helped his team to back-to-back Final Four appearances in the Class 7A state tournament and was an all-region, all-county and all-metro team selection.

“Valpo is getting a point guard who is really unselfish,” Edwards said. “You’re getting a point guard who can really pass. I’m good in transition with a really good burst of speed. I can score as well. I really just want to win, that’s my main goal. I want to be a part of creating a winning culture, and I want to see all of my teammates succeed.”