WCC Basketball: Breakout candidates from each team for 2020-21 season

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: A logo for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament is shown on the court before the championship game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

6 of 11

ANAHEIM, CA – DECEMBER 01: Emmitt Holt #15 of the Providence Friars defends Kessler Edwards #15 of the Pepperdine Waves (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

WCC Basketball breakout candidate – Kessler Edwards (Pepperdine)

Pepperdine had the definition of an even keel season, finishing 16-16 and 8-8 in conference play, but for head coach Lorenzo Romar there is a reason for optimism for next season because the waves have an all-conference star in senior guard Colbey Ross and two other players that averaged double-digit points last season, and one of those, junior forward Kessler Edwards could be poised for a big season for the Waves.

The 6-8 Edwards is the younger brother of the graduated Kameron Edwards, the younger Edwards had a very solid season for Pepperdine last season with his 13.8 points and team-leading 7.5 rebounds (0.1 rebounds better than his older brother) per game. Edwards has been a solid contributor since the first day he showed up in Malibu, starting 59 of the 66 games he has played, and improved in every major statistical category.

He registered nine double-doubles as a sophomore, with the last one coming in a 21-point and 10-rebound effort in a double-overtime loss to Saint Mary’s in the WCC Tournament. With his brother no longer there, I would expect Edwards to take on an even bigger role in the Waves’ game plans, he along with Ross should form quite the dynamic duo for Pepperdine.