Lefty Edwards
Leroy Edwards was one of the first true "stars" of professional basketball in the United States
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 11, 1914 Crawfordsville, Indiana |
| Died | August 25, 1971 (aged 57) Lawrence, Indiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
Arsenal Technical (Indianapolis, Indiana) |
| College | Kentucky (1934–1935) |
| Playing career | 1935–1949 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 25, 29 |
| Career history | |
| 1935–1936 | Indianapolis U. S. Tire (Midwest Basketball Conference) |
| 1937–1949 | Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Leroy Edwards (April 11, 1914 – August 25, 1971), nicknamed "Cowboy" and "Lefty", was one of the greatest basketball players of his era. He was an NCAA All-American at the University of Kentucky and also one of the most lauded professional players in the United States' National Basketball League's history.
Edwards was a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) center who starred at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Back then, he was known as the "East Side Terror", and it was between his sophomore and junior years that he learned how to do a hook shot after watching a barn-storming basketball team perform the feat. He played for the varsity team in 1930–31, 1931–32 and 1932–33, leading the team in scoring his final two seasons while also helping to win the Indianapolis City Crown all three of his varsity seasons. Edwards was an all-state player who twice led the North Central Conference in scoring and also led Arsenal to the state quarterfinals as a junior in an era when there were no divisional breakdowns based on school enrollment. In his senior season of 1932–33, Arsenal Tech lost in the sectional final against Shortridge High School, a team they had beaten twice during the regular season, but still finished the year with a 22–3 record.
Edwards played one season of varsity basketball at the University of Kentucky. Due to NCAA rules, college freshmen were not allowed to play varsity sports at the time. As a freshman in 1933–34, he set a college scoring record 24 points per game in 17 games as he guided the Kentucky freshmen team to an undefeated season.
In 1934–35, his sophomore year and his first of varsity eligibility, he led the Wildcats to a 19–2 record. Averaging nearly 20 ppg, he set a single season point record that lasted until 1947 when teams began playing more games each season. One loss was to a very good Michigan State squad (32 to 26) and the other to New York University (NYU) at the old Madison Square Garden.
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