Big Sky Basketball: Gonzaga Bulldogs’ Ryan Edwards transfers to Portland State
By Connor Hope
After spending three seasons on the Gonzaga bench, Ryan Edwards heads to Portland State as a grad transfer.
After a disappointing season in which he saw career lows in minutes, rebounds, and blocks per game, former Gonzaga center Ryan Edwards is transferring to Portland State. While Edward has only played 402 minutes in his college career, he will provide the Vikings with efficiency, size, and valuable experience.
Edwards’ biggest asset is his ability to compete on the offensive boards and his efficiency in the paint. In his limited minutes, Edwards posted a 12.91 offensive rebound percentage — which ranks seventh in the WCC since 2009.
With a .527 field-goal percentage and .717 free-throw percentage, Edwards fits Portland States roster of highly efficient shooters. Last season, the Vikings’ .482 field-goal percentage ranked 21st in the nation.
Defensively, Edwards gives the Vikings a true big man who can provide size and rim protection in the paint. Last season, Portland State’s player with significant minutes was 6’8”center Traylin Farris. Edwards is 7’1”, 295 pounds, and spent three seasons learning to use that size from Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski.
Edwards is immediately eligible to play, and Portland State’s Big Sky opponents should expect to see a lot of him. While Edwards saw limited minutes on Gonzaga’s loaded roster, he should be one of the Vikings’ more prominent players.
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Edwards is not the answer to Portland State’s Big Sky Championship pursuit, but he does provide first-year head coach Barrett Peery with a reliable center. His contribution may be enough to help lead the Vikings to a winning season in the Big Sky for the first time since 2013-2014.