- Name
- Leroy Edwards
- Position
- Center
- Class
- Sophomore
- Hometown (Last School)
- Indianapolis, IN (Arsenal Tech)
- Ht
- 6'4"
- Wt
- 215
- Seasons
- 1934-35
- Birthday
- April 11, 1914
Leroy Edwards was born Harry Leroy Edwards on April 11, 1914, in Crawfordsville, Indiana, to Charles and Millie M. Edwards. Edwards became one of the earliest stars in University of Kentucky basketball history, playing under legendary coach Adolph Rupp during the early 1930s. He was a pioneering basketball player who made a lasting impact on both the college and professional game.
Edwards attended high school at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was top scorer at Tech for three years and led the team in his junior year (1931-32) to the Final 8 of the Indiana State Tournament with his favorite right-handed hook-shot. He also was the top scorer of the North Central Conference, of which Tech was a member at the time.
Edwards, nicknamed “Big Ed” or “Cowboy,” played for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1933 to 1935. Standing 6-foot-5, he was a dominant center in an era when players of his size and skill were rare.
As a freshman on the freshman squad during the 1933–34 season, he led Kentucky to an undefeated 16–0 regular season record. He scored just under 400 points in 17 games and was termed a “sensation.”
As a sophomore, Edwards scored 343 points, his high game being 34 against Creighton University. In one game against the University of Chicago, he tallied 26 points to the entire Maroons’ 16. No opposing center outscored him during the season. He led Kentucky to a 19-2 record and an SEC co-championship with LSU. He earned All-SEC and All-American honors. He was named the Helms National Player of the Year for 1934-35 and became one of the first true stars under Coach Rupp.
Edwards left Kentucky after his sophomore season to play professionally for the Oshkosh All-Stars in the National Basketball League (NBL) — one of the NBA’s predecessor leagues. From 1936 to 1942, he was one of the most dominant players in pro basketball, winning multiple scoring titles and earning three MVP awards (1938, 1939, 1940).
Edwards helped lead Oshkosh to several league championships and was widely regarded as the best center in the country during his prime. He was known for his soft shooting touch, excellent footwork, and unselfish play — all ahead of his time.
Though his name may not be as widely known today, Leroy Edwards played a crucial role in the development of basketball — especially at the University of Kentucky and in the early professional leagues.
Edwards was inducted into the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
He passed away on August 25, 1971, but his contributions to the game live on in the history books and in the legacy of Kentucky basketball.
