Jason Edwin suiting up for Kent State’s  2003-04 season 

After spending a year at South Eastern Community College in Illinois concentrating on improving his academics, former St. Louis University Billikens forward Jason Edwin who was declared academically ineligible during the 2001-02 season, has signed a letter of intent to play with Kent State for the 2003-04 season.  “I’ve learnt so much about just being a man in this world,” Edwin said of his time away from collegiate basketball. “I also learnt that you have to work hard for everything in life because nothing would be handed to you on a plate.”

Along with hitting the books, Edwin kept in shape by playing at a local YMCA. At the time he was declared ineligible, Edwin was the Billikens’ second leading scorer during the 2001-02 season. He averaged 9.2 points per game while starting 18 of 31 games. In his two-year career, he averaged 7.2 ppg in 53 games including 29 starting assignments.

“Kent State was the only school that really understood my situation and what I going to do to turn around,” Edwin a 6’6” 220 forward said. “Kent State has been successful for the past five years now and it just seems like a good place for the next two years I have to play ball. They want me to come in and be the go to guy, so I can’t ask for more than that right now.” Besides Kent State, Creighton, Idaho, Murray State and some junior colleges showed interest in him. Edwin will spend the summer in class and getting to know his new teammates. He says he’s bringing experience and somebody who is hungry from the Billikens to Kent State. “I’ve been out of basketball for a while now,” Edwin said. “I’m looking at this as a second chance to rewrite the script the way I wanted it to be.”

Kent State Golden Flashers who plays in the Mid America Conference, finished the 2002-03 season at 21-10, their fifth consecutive 20-win season. They were seeking their third successive MAC Conference Tournament title, but lost 77-67 to Central Michigan. They also lost 71-66 to the College of Charleston in the opening round of the NIT Tournament.