Busting Brackets
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WCC Basketball: Breakout candidates from each team for 2019-20

By Andy Patton

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: Filip Petrusev #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the second half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: Filip Petrusev #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the second half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 11: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Kessler Edwards #15 of the Pepperdine Waves go after a loose ball during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Waves 100-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 11: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Kessler Edwards #15 of the Pepperdine Waves go after a loose ball during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Waves 100-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

F Kessler Edwards – Pepperdine Waves

I don’t know if you can call a guy who finished fourth on his team in scoring a ‘breakout candidate’ but Pepperdine forward Kessler Edwards fits the bill. The team is losing two of their top-six scorers in guard Eric Cooper (10.7) and forward Darnell Dunn (8.4), which opens up more opportunities for buckets.

The team still retains star guard Colbey Ross and forward Kameron Edwards – Kessler’s older brother. However, they’ll need someone to step into that No. 3 role, and the younger Edwards looks primed to fill in that spot.

Edwards averaged 9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and one assist per game last year, shooting 43.8% from the field but a very nice 37% from downtown. He had a few standout performances early in the year, including 18 points against Idaho State and 19 the following game against Abilene Christian.

Edwards will be a big part of the Waves offense next season, and his blend of size and explosiveness – not to mention his borderline elite outside shooting – could make him a WCC star for years to come.