DEKALB, Ill. — One of the biggest feel-good stories of the entire college basketball season took place on Saturday at the NIU Convocation Center.
At the 8:36 mark of the first half of the Toledo-Northern Illinois game, UT’s A.J. Edu stepped foot on a basketball court for the first time in 443 days. The fourth-year sophomore has encountered horrendous luck during his career, suffering three major knee injuries over the past three years that cost him 84 games.
“It was pretty surreal,” Edu said. “I wasn’t even thinking, to be honest. It felt natural. I thought it was going to be more awkward.”
The 6-foot-10 center made a free throw, grabbed a rebound, and had one steal in three minutes in Toledo’s 100-72 win. He began practicing with the team again in January, working up to Saturday’s appearance.
“Great to get him back out there,” Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “He needed it for his own mental health. Obviously, he’s got some rust to work on.”
Edu suffered his first ACL tear during the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Greece, which caused him to miss the entire 2019-20 season. Two games after he returned last season, Edu tore his meniscus. A third knee injury — an ACL tear in his left knee — occurred in the summer of 2021.
The defensive specialist was named to the All-MAC freshman team after recording a conference-best 1.9 blocks per game in 2018-19. His 57 blocks were the most by a freshman in UT history and just three shy of the program record. In two games last season, Edu had 14 rebounds and four blocks.
“It was great just seeing somebody who’s been through all the trials and tribulations, all the injuries in the past three years, it’s a blessing for him to be on the court,” Toledo sophomore guard Ryan Rollins said. “I can only imagine what’s going through his mind. I’m proud of him.”
Edu averaged 14.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocked shots for the Philippines in the FIBA Under-18 Asia Championships in 2018. He ranked second in the tournament in rebounding and blocked shots and third in 3-point shooting.
The Rockets hope to work Edu up to double-digit minutes by the Mid-American Conference tournament, adding a rim protector and rebounding presence to what is already the conference’s No. 1-ranked 2-point field goal percentage defense and second-best rebounding team.
“This was already a great team. If I can add to that, it’d be an amazing thing,” Edu said. “I just have to be patient. I know it’s a process to come back. I need to enjoy every minute that I have out there.”
First Published February 14, 2022, 12:14 a.m.
