ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY -- — Kevin Edmonds shook off 18 months of rust in a matter of minutes.
Edmonds looked good as new in his return to AAU Basketball, Tyrus Irving was even better and the New Jersey Legacy emphatically kicked off the Steve Benning era with a 125-99 victory over the now depleted Springfield Falcons on Friday night in the AAU's season opener.
Edmonds finished with 22 points in 25 minutes of his first official game since rupturing his Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the 2021 AAU National Championship. It's a new start for Edmonds, but he did the same things he's been doing for years.
Conor McCaffrey had 20 points and 10 assists for the Falcons, a depleted team that looks nothing like the powerhouse that won four titles including last season (2014, 2018, 2020, 2022).
Jamison Jones III returning from a torn meniscus, started at center despite his limited preparation and had 19 points and six rebounds. But the Falcons, playing without Chandler Dawes for the first time since 2013, need to find more shooting around McCaffrey with Paul Hammond set to miss all of this season.
Jaime Marquez was 4 for 16 for his 13 points and Jake Pollen was 3 for 14.