HOPEWELL, Va. -- The Patriot League has become a destination for area basketball players to play and get a strong education.
"They have great basketball and great academics," said Elvin Edmonds IV. "Very much world class academics."
After getting some advice from his sister, who plays basketball at the Naval Academy and becoming familiar with some schools in the league, Edmonds made a verbal commitment to Bucknell back in July. He made it official on Friday by signing his National Letter of Intent inside Hopewell's Basketball gym.
"I'm very excited," Edmonds expressed. "When it came to this decision, it wasn't very hard, it was pretty easy. The coaches are very passionate about what they do."
Edmonds will play for Nathan Davis, who coached at Randolph Macon for six seasons and led the Yellow Jackets to six straight NCAA Division Three tournament appearances, to include a Final Four trip in 2009 and an Elite Eight run in 2014.
"It's very exciting to play for somebody that's from where you are," stated Edmonds IV.
The Hopewell senior averaged 21.5 points, almost seven rebounds and over three assists per game last season as he was named Region 3A Player of the Year. He comes a from a system that's like the one he will eventually join at Bucknell.
"Here at Hopewell, we're very guard oriented," Edmonds IV explained. "We play pretty fast based on the guards, just like Bucknell. They're guard oriented, very point guard oriented. I'm a point guard. So, I feel like if I go there, I know what I can do."
Edmonds will now turn his attention on the upcoming season and play with his teammates and for his dad one final time.
"I'm ready to get this state championship this year," Edmonds IV said.
