Leroy Edwards

Leroy Harry Edwards (April 11, 1914 – August 25, 1971), nicknamed "Cowboy" and "Lefty", was one of the greatest basketball players of his era.

He was an NCAA All-American at the University of Kentucky and also one of the most lauded professional players in the United States' National Basketball League's history.

Edwards was a 6ft 5in center who starred at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Back then, he was known as the "East Side Terror", and it was between his sophomore and junior years that he learned how to do a hook shot after watching a barn-storming basketball team perform the feat.

He played for the varsity team in 1930–31, 1931–32 and 1932–33, leading the team in scoring his final two seasons while also helping to win the Indianapolis City Crown all three of his varsity seasons.

Edwards was an all-state player who twice led the North Central Conference in scoring and also led Arsenal to the state quarterfinals as a junior in an era when there were no divisional breakdowns based on school enrollment.

In his senior season of 1932–33, Arsenal Tech lost in the sectional final against Shortridge High School, a team they had beaten twice during the regular season, but still finished the year with a 22–3 record.

Edwards played one season of varsity basketball at the University of Kentucky.

Due to NCAA rules, college freshmen were not allowed to play varsity sports at the time.

As a freshman in 1933–34, he set a college scoring record 24 points per game in 17 games as he guided the Kentucky freshmen team to an undefeated season.

In 1934–35, his sophomore year and his first of varsity eligibility, he led the Wildcats to a 19–2 record.

Enacted in 1936, it was originally designed to limit rough play near the basket.

The rule limits the time players can remain in the area in front of the basket known as the "paint" or free-throw lane.

The rule has been modified and is still used today.

In a different game that season, Edwards set another college basketball record, scoring 34 points against Creighton University.

In 1936 he signed his first pro contract with the Oshkosh All-Stars, a team in Wisconsin that played in the National Basketball League (NBL).

This league was the forerunner to the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He played for them from 1936 to 1949.

He was a prolific scorer with either hand, left or right, could shoot from the outside and was an excellent defensive player.

He accomplished so much at a time when game scores and point totals were much lower than today.

In those days, the actual playing time was shorter.

The game had 15–17 minute halves and no 24 second shot clock.

Play was slower and teams would play zone defense and hold on to the ball for long periods of time, making it very difficult for a player to score many points in a game.

Today, NBA games consist of four 12 minute quarters and each team takes over 75 shots per game.

Edwards held a number of game scoring records.

He led the NBL in scoring his first three years and in 1939 he led the league in every recorded offensive statistic.

He ended his career as the second highest scorer in National Basketball League history.

He was the first professional basketball player to score 35 points in a game when he did so against the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons on March 5, 1942.

Averaging nearly 20 ppg, he set a single season point record that lasted until 1947 when teams began playing more games each season.

One loss was to a very good Michigan State squad (32–26) and the other to New York University (NYU) at the old Madison Square Garden.

NYU and Kentucky were considered the best two college teams in the country at that time and playing for the national championship.

A then-record 16,500 fans attended the match.

A controversy occurred when sports writers said that Kentucky would have won this game if the two NYU players who were hanging onto Edwards throughout the game had fouls called on them.

NYU won the game, 23–22.

Edwards is generally recognized as the player responsible for the implementation of the three-second rule.

After coach Adolph Rupp's retirement in 1972 he was asked who was the best center he had ever seen play the game and his answer was Leroy Edwards.

He said Edwards was the strongest player that he ever coached and he played above the rim.

Edwards, selected to the First Team All-Southeastern Conference, was also named the Helms Athletic Foundation National College Player of the Year.

Edwards left the University of Kentucky after just his sophomore year—an extremely rare decision for basketball players during that era—to start what would become an historical professional basketball career.

When Edwards decided to play professional basketball he was considered the premier player in the country.