McMaster men's basketball coach Amos Connolly knows the value of consistent perimeter shooting in today's game, and as such he is excited to announce combo guard Jacob Edwards from St. Andrew's College as his first recruit commitment of the year.

"Jacob is a true student-athlete; one that excels in the classroom and is truly committed to improving his craft," beamed Connolly about his newest Marauder.  "He  is an excellent shooter who can score in bunches, and the respect he draws on the perimeter provides him with the opportunity to attack and create for others.  Jacob adds both depth and shooting to our guard corps, which is a need for us moving forward."
 
Having established a career high 39-point effort in a game earlier this season, Edwards has collected numerous accolades, that include seven tourney all-star awards and being named the MVP of three tournaments.
 
Edwards said it was the combination of academics and athletics that prompted  him to embark on a university career as a Marauder. "The McMaster DeGroote School of Business is one of the top programs in the country and I believe it will set me up for well for the future," explained the native of Barrie.  "I knew that McMaster had a very strong and talented team –   a top team in the OUA.  After touring the campus and spending time with the players and coaching staff, I was impressed with the coaching philosophies, expansive athletic facilities, and commitment to team and individual player development, on and off the court."
 

Along with playing for his St. Andrew's Saints in the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA), the 6-3 southpaw has club basketball experience with the Vaughn Panthers, Barrie Royals, and Grassroots Canada Elite Alumni.
 
"Having made my university decision early is exciting and a huge relief," said Edwards.  "It allows me to focus on finishing out my senior year strong, academically and athletically, without the stress of figuring out where I'm going next year. It will also enable me to get a head start on training and conditioning for the Marauders!"

The McMaster men's team travels to Guelph on Saturday, January 14th to clash with the Gryphons in OUA Central Division play.  The doubleheader starts at 6-pm with the women's game, followed by the men's game at 8-pm.

The games can be viewed online at OUA.tv and are available on radio at 93.3 CFMU-FM.