GWU Adds Standout Perimeter Duo To Recruiting Class
July 24, 2006 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS - Gardner-Webb men's basketball coach Rick
Scruggs announced today that the Runnin' Bulldogs had signed a pair
of standout perimeter players, wing Jake Sims and
combo guard Selden Edwards, to National Letters of
Intent.
Sims, a 6-foot-5 marksman from Augusta, Kan., will have two years
of eligibility at Gardner-Webb after a solid career at Dodge City
(Kan.) Community College under Coach Brian Hoberecht. He was rated
the Jayhawk Conference's top shooter this past season by the Topeka
Capital-Journal, and averaged 10.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2
assists per game on a team that went 23-10 and won the Jayhawk
Conference's Western Division. Following the season, Sims was named
honorable mention All-Jayhawk.
Sims, who also took an official visit to Colorado State and
eventually chose GWU over an offer from the Mountain West
Conference's Rams, made 58-of-140 attempts from three-point range
as a sophomore. Sims was also recruited by NCAA Sweet 16
participant Wichita State, Eastern Kentucky and Arkansas-Little
Rock.
"Any time you can sign a player who is capable of playing in a high
major Division I conference, you're pleased," said Scruggs. "Jake
is a great shooter, but he's capable of doing a number of things on
the court that can help us win - and compete at the highest levels
within our conference. He's a difference maker for us next
season."
Sims is no stranger to success on the court, having starred at
Augusta (Kan.) High under Coach Terry Taylor before heading to
Dodge City. He was named first-team All-State as a junior and
senior, and helped the Orioles to a Kansas Class 4A State
Championship as the team's sixth man during his sophomore
season.
Edwards, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound combo guard, spent a post-graduate
year at Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Va., under the
watchful eye of Coach Bruce Kreutzer. The southpaw shooter averaged
10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for a team that
finished with a 25-7 record and a No. 9 national prep school
ranking.
A native of Huntington, WVa., Edwards spent his senior high school
season at Cabell Midland (WVa.) High, where he earned Class 3A
All-State honors under Coach Curry Haggerty. Edwards led the
Knights with 17 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals
per game in 2004-2005, and played in the annual Ohio-West Virginia
All-Star Game. He chose GWU over Boston University, VMI and
Quinnipiac.
"Selden is an athletic young man who we feel can step in and
strengthen our backcourt immediately," said Scruggs. "He's a very
physical guard who has a good enough handle to play the point, and
he can shoot it from deep. This is a youngster who will add some
quality depth to our team quickly, and is capable of playing at a
high level for us as a freshman."
The duo joins an already strong recruiting class for next season in
Boiling Springs. Back in November, 2005, Gardner-Webb signed
5-foot-9 point guard Wesley Mincey (Dunwoody, Ga.), 6-foot-10,
260-pound center Matt Maden (Queensland, Australia) and 6-foot-5
leaper Jesse Wheeler (Duluth, Ga.) to National Letters of
Intent.
PLAYER BIO SKETCHES
Jake Sims
6-5 * 210 * Wing
Augusta, Kan. / Augusta HS / Dodge City CC
Played at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College under Coach Brian
Hoberecht … Rated the Jayhawk Conference's top shooter by
the Topeka Capital-Journal as a sophomore … Led the
Conquistadors to a 23-10 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the
ultra-competitive Jayhawk Conference … Team won the Western
Division title … An honorable mention All-Jayhawk selection
… Was the team's fourth leading scorer, averaging 10.0
points in 33 games played … Made 58-of-140 attempts from
long distance (41.4 percent) … Made 78.3 percent of his free
throws (72-of-92) … Also supplied 4.2 rebounds and 2.2
assists per game … Chose Gardner-Webb over Colorado State
… Also recruited by Wichita State, Arkansas Little Rock and
Eastern Kentucky.
High School: Played at Augusta (Kan. ) High under Coach Terry
Taylor … A two-time first-team All-State selection, once at
the 4A level (senior) and once at the 5A level (junior) …
Helped Orioles to the Kansas Class 4A State Championship as a
sophomore.
Selden Edwards
6-2 * 180 * Guard
Huntington, WVa. / Cabell Midland HS / Massanutten
Military
Played one season at Massanutten (Va.) Military Academy under Coach
Bruce Kreutzer … Led team to a 25-7 record and a No. 9
national ranking among prep schools … Averaged 10.3 points,
3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game … Made 72.0 percent of
his free throw chances … Knocked down 35 percent of his
shots from three-point range … Had a season-high 22 points
vs. Southern Virginia Junior Varsity … Chose Gardner-Webb
over Boston University, VMI and Quinnipiac.
High School: Played at Cabell Midland (WVa.) High under Coach Curry
Haggerty as a senior … Led the Knights with averages of 17
points , 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a
senior … Also led team in blocked shots … An
All-Conference selection … Named honorable mention Class 3A
All-State … Played in the annual Ohio-West Virginia All-Star
Game following senior campaign … Played previous three
seasons at Huntington (WVa.) High.
