One of the reasons Christ the King is considered one of the top boys basketball teams in New York City is because of its versatility — from a rising star in sophomore shooting guard Omar Calhoun to the interchangeable and workmanlike big men Maurice Barrow, Dominykas Milka and Roland Brown to a deep bench that includes T.J. Curry, Kareem Thomas and Terrel Hunt.
But when it comes to the team’s quarterback, its engine, the guy running the show is Corey Edwards and he’s a huge reason why Christ the King enjoyed an impressive 3-0 week in CHSAA play. He is arguably the best pure point guard in the city and that could separate the Royals from the rest of the pack come March.
Just ask Xaverian coach Jack Alesi.
“The kid Edwards is one of the best guards I’ve seen in this league in a long time,” Alesi said. “The kid knows the game. He has that Levance Fields swagger about him.”
On Friday, Edwards paced the Royals to a 67-34 victory against Holy Cross in the team’s home opener and followed that with a huge performance against rival Bishop Loughlin, scoring 21 points and dishing out 10 assists as the Royals won in Fort Greene, 68-57, in a battle of two of the top three teams in The Post’s New York City boys basketball rankings.
“He took over the game,” Calhoun said. “In the second half he started making plays like a great point guard does. He capitalized and made plays for his teammates and scored for himself.”
And on Tuesday back in Middle Village, Edwards, who is being recruited by Auburn, Hofstra, George Mason, Fordham and St. John’s, had seven points and nine assists as Christ the King pounded Xaverian, 55-38.
“I keep talking to him about character,” Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello said. “He has a lot more character than he did last year.”
Like a good point guard should, Edwards isn’t concerned about gaudy offensive numbers. The emphasis at Christ the King, at least since Arbitello has taken over as coach, is on the defensive end. And that’s where Edwards has also led the way.
Case in point, on Friday he didn’t care about how many points he or any of his teammates scored. It was his team’s lockdown defense in the third quarter that impressed him.
“We held them to like four points in the third quarter, that’s what we need,” Edwards said. “If we get that, we can beat any team — Rice, Loughlin.”