Center of attention
Malek Edmonds’ productivity leads to Bulldog basketball victories
By Mike Beas
Brownsburg High School boys basketball has produced four-year runs in which the discrepancy between victories and losses is wider than the court on which the Bulldogs play.
Senior center Malek Edmonds is a key component to the success the program has enjoyed since the start of the 2016-17 season. Prior to January, the Bulldogs won 76-percent of their games (63-20) with Edmonds on the varsity roster.
Photo by Rick Myers
At 6-foot-5-inches, Edmonds can take defenders low in his quest for points. He’s also shown the ability to step outside and knock down the 3-pointer.
“Malek has been a varsity player since he was a freshman,” said Brownsburg coach Steve Lynch. “We used him off the bench that season, and he’s been a starter since his sophomore season. He’s primarily a post player, but he’s really a very skilled forward.
“He’s a great defender who has been a great leader for our program. Malek has worked hard in the weightroom and is in great shape so that he can play as hard as he can.”
This season, Edmonds played a key role in helping Brownsburg soar to an 11-1 record – the program’s best start in 16 years – by averaging team-highs in both points (16.5) and rebounds (8.7). By mid-January, the Bulldogs had climbed to No. 5 in Class 4A.
Edmonds’ productivity took a noticeable jump from a year ago when he produced 10.5 points and 4.7 boards per contest. He scored double-figure point totals in each of Brownsburg’s first 10 games this season before spraining an ankle in the team’s 72-41 win over Tri-West in the opening round of the Hendricks County Tournament.
“I knew I was going to have to step up this year because we lost seven seniors from last season,” Edmonds said. “I’m a very versatile player who can bring a lot of things to the team. I probably pride myself most on my defense. I try to make sure my man doesn’t score more points than me.
“This team shares the ball and shoots the ball well. I think that’s why we’re doing so well this season.”
Prior to sustaining his injury, Edmonds scored a season-high 21 points against both Franklin Central and Heritage Hills. He’s reached double-digits in rebounds on four occasions, Edmonds’ best showing being 13 in a 57-54 win over Crispus Attucks in November.
Edmonds has offers to play college basketball at Marian University in Indianapolis, an NAIA program, and Northwood University in Midland, Mich., a Division II level program. The University of Indianapolis and Southern Indiana University, two more D-IIs, are showing interest.
He would like to eventually major in physical therapy.
As a freshman, Edmonds helped Brownsburg advance to the Southport Regional, where it lost in the semifinal to Connersville in overtime, 55-49. With the end of his high school basketball career near, Edmonds hopes another impressive postseason run is only weeks away.
