Norm Roberts announced Wednesday that he received the Red Storm’s second signed National Letter of Intent of the off-season.
After signing combo guard Quincy Roberts on Tuesday, the men’s basketball head coach introduced another high school guard to the Red Storm faithful: 6-foot-4 Kentucky All-State TyShwan Edmondson.
Coach Roberts was excited to begin filling the holes in the backcourt left by Eugene Lawrence’s graduation and Larry Wright’s recent transfer from St. John’s.
“TyShwan will give us great minutes at the point and solid minutes off the ball as well, because he is a quality scorer,” Roberts told Redstormsports.com. “He will help us on the defensive end with his length and quickness, and we are very excited to add him to our backcourt.”
As a senior at University Heights Academy, Edmondson averaged 18.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He stood out as a dynamic playmaking guard, using his speed to score in transition and create his own shots.
“I am very excited to come to St. John’s,” said Edmondson. “This is a big step in my life, and I am ready to come in and work hard, to be the best that I can be.”
Edmondson led the UHA Blazers to a 30-5 record last season, culminating with a championship in the Kentucky All “A” tournament, a single-elimination competition among the state’s small schools. TyShwan was named MVP of the tournament.
The Blazers also competed in Kentucky’s large school tournament, exiting in the Sweet Sixteen. Following postseason play, Edmondson was selected to the Kentucky-Ohio All-Star team, where he scored 14 points for the home-town team and dominated the Slam Dunk Contest.
Edmondson’s high school coach, Randy McKoy, was optimistic about his star guard making the transition to Division I.
“Having a big guard like that on the floor will be valuable to St. John’s,” said McKoy. “He’s a good person, he’s a good student, and he’s an excellent basketball talent. He has the ability to come in and play as a freshman in the Big East.”
Although scouted by outstanding programs in the Big Ten and SEC, Edmondson was enticed to New York because of the opportunity to vie against top-tier basketball programs.
“The level of play in the Big East was one of the things that convinced me to go to St. John’s,” said Edmondson.
Coach Roberts, who has been recruiting Edmondson since January, told Coach McKoy his exact intentions when scouting the Kentucky guard.
“Coach Roberts and his staff were very open about their situation as far as what they wanted to do with the program,” said McKoy. “They are really trying to bring St. John’s basketball back to the prominence that it once had.”
Edmondson graduates from high school on May 23. He plans to report to St. John’s for summer classes and workouts in early June.
