Edwards leads All-Americans

Carsen Edwards went through the NBA draft combine and multiple workouts before deciding to return for his junior season at Purdue.

The Boilermakers are sure happy he did after losing four seniors and most of their scoring. The prolific guard was the leading vote-getter on the Associated Press preseason men’s All-America team released Tuesday, appearing on 63 of 65 ballots from a media panel.

Edwards was joined by North Carolina forward Luke Maye, Duke freshman R.J. Barrett, Kansas big man Dedric Lawson, Nevada’s Caleb Martin and Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ.

Edwards is Purdue’s first preseason AP All-American since JaJuan Johnson in 2010-11.

Like Edwards, Maye was a third-team All-American who entered his name into the draft before withdrawing. Maye hit the shot that beat Kentucky to send the Tar Heels to the Final Four as a sophomore during their 2017 title run.

Barrett arrived at Duke as the marquee player in head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s latest stellar recruiting class. Barrett was widely regarded as the top recruit in the 2018 class and has been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

Lawson played two seasons at Memphis before opting to transfer to Kansas.

Martin, Nevada’s first preseason All-American who led the Wolfpack to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and Happ tied for the fifth spot on the All-America team.