Photo credit Cliff Williams
Cortez Edwards (188-PG-1997, college: Southern Miss, agency: Octagon Europe) is a 25 year old 188cm point guard from Kissimmee Florida playing his fourth professional season and first with SCM CSU Craiova (Romania-Liga Nationala). Last season he played with LoKoKo Bisons Loimaa (Finland-1st Division) averaging 13.5ppg, 6.1rpg, 4.9apg, Steals-4 (2.0spg), FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 72.4%. He played his first 2 professional seasons in the UK with teams the Worcester Wolves (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 6.9rpg, 6.4apg, Steals-3 (1.8spg), FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 75.0%; and in the BBL Cup and averaged 14.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 4.8apg, Steals-5 (1.9spg), FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 42.5%, FT: 64.9% and then played with the Newcastle Eagles (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 15.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.9apg, Steals-1 (2.7spg), FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 73.7%; and in the BBL Cup averaged 13.4ppg, 7.4rpg, 4.7apg, Steals-2 (2.1spg), FGP: 55.8%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 77.8%. he began his basketball career at Osceola High School and then played at the University of Southern Mississippi from 2015-2019 playing a total of 123 games and averaged 16.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.9apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 77.3% as a junior and as a senior averaged .3ppg, 6.0rpg, 3.2apg, 2.1spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 72. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Hakro Melrins Crailsheim.
Thanks Cortez for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
Hello, I am in Craiova, Romania for this season basketball life has been treating me well it comes with many new challenges every year but that’s the beauty of it .
Your playing your first season for SCM CSU Craiova (Romania-Liga Nationala). After playing in the UK and Finland, what kind of an experience has it been lacing them up in Romania. What do you feel has been the biggest challenge on the court for you?
Playing in Romania has been fun so far you know every country has a different style of play so just making minor adjustments to my game that will allow for most success here has been the biggest challenge so far
There are guys that are lucky to win one chip as a professional in a career, but you have already won 3 in your first 3 years. How big of a challenge is it coming to Rumania and go for titles on a team that has never won before?
Winning championships is the best feeling ever although the club has never won one I feel management and the staff we have here are taking necessary steps to give us the opportunity as players we just have to make it happen
You put up really good stats in your first 3 pro seasons. Where do you want to go with your game in Rumania. Is scoring a part of your game where you feel that you could take it to a new level?
Yes I think scoring at a high level is where I could take to a better level , mainly for me to be aggressive every possession will allow my scoring ability to show more
How much of a plus has it been being teammates with ultimate veteran Giordan Watson. I interviewed this guy for the first time in Germany and you were 12 years old. How has he helped you with your game best since you arrived?
Giordan has been a major help for me always giving me advice Everyday I try and pick his brain about different things how defenses will gameplan to stop us
Let’s talk a bit about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?
If I had to compare myself to anyone it would probably be Jrue Holiday because like myself he can be dominant on offense and defense
How big is versatility in your game. You have the ability to be a very good playmaker. What areas in your playmaking do you want to improve to make the next step?
I think my versatility is what stands out most in my game. I can improve my playmaking by being more aggressive opening things up more to pass
Your already an excellent defender, but where do you still want to get to with your defensive game in the next years?
Defensively I can be a lot better at communicating with my teammates letting them know where they’re help is and just being more vocal out there .
Last season you played with LoKoKo Bisons Loimaa (Finland-1st Division) averaging 13.5ppg, 6.1rpg, 4.9apg, Steals-4 (2.0spg), FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 72.4%. Finland is a league that Americans like to play in to make the next step. How do you feel did your game grow playing there?
I grew a lot playing in Finland the style of play there is very intense and fast so I learned how to make decisions much quicker and playing with more intensity every night
In your second professional season you played for the Newcastle Eagles (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 15.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.9apg, Steals-1 (2.7spg), FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 73.7%. I guess one can say you had the London Lions number winning the title 68-66 and earlier in the season achieving a triple double.What will you always remember from that final game win and your triple double?
The season in Newcastle was very memorable for me in the final game I just remember being in a zone where everything was going my way. The triple double was exciting because I kept getting close every week but that night I was finally able to make it happen
Photo Credit Cliff Williams
In your rookie season you played for the Worcester Wolves (United Kingdom-BBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 6.9rpg, 6.4apg, Steals-3 (1.8spg), FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 26.3%, FT: 75.0%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were very far away from home?
My wake up call my rookie year was when I saw people driving on the right side of the road and I then knew I was far away from home
You played at the University of Southern Mississippi (NCAA) from 2015-2019. You put up consistent stats in your last 3 years. How do you feel did your game grow in your time there?
My time is college allowed me to grow so much being the focal point of the team for three years forced me to have to find a way to produce every night
Near the end of your senior year you had 2 exciting 2 point wins over Florida Atlantic and Louisiana Tech where you scored 22 and 21 points. Were those 2 of your most memorable games there in terms of excitement?
Yeah those two games were very memorable me being from Florida and my family there at the Florida Atlantic game meant a lot and the Louisiana Tech game the fans were amazing the energy that night was incredible
How did head coach Doc Sadler groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Doc Sadler taught me so many things fundamentally that allowed me to make the transition to European basketball , from footwork to defensive schemes and different offensive sets, everything .
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kevin Holland?
I was never the type to play 1 on 1 much but I would normally win if I ever played
Who was the toughest player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
Charles Bassey would have to be because those guys beat us 3 times my senior year and he was a big reason why. Also Terrence Mann and Duncan Robinson were two my other toughest opponents.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Tyree Griffin Rahmon Fletcher Mark Hughes Jordan Williams and Justin Gordon
What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?
Allen Iverson LeBron James Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant
What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?
I think Jordan is the greatest of all time but the argument for Lebron is a valid one
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?
I think the sequel was funny but it doesn’t come close to the original
Thanks Cortez for the chat.
German Hoops 