Carsen Edwards out to prove height doesn’t matter

The biggest questions pertaining to Carsen Edwards have to do with his height.

The former Purdue standout measured out at 6 feet, ¼ inch with his sneakers on and just 5-10 ¾ without them at last month’s NBA draft combine.

While those measurement are fine for the average human being, it’s kind of short in the NBA for a player who thrives off the ball.

So there has to be some concerns, right?

Not really, according to Marc Eversley, the 76ers senior vice president of player personnel.

“His height is a little bit of a deterrent,” Eversley said, “but I think with the qualities he has, he’ll be fine.”

The executive’s comments were made Wednesday shortly after Edwards participated in the Sixers’ pre-draft workout at the team’s practice facility in Camden.

He was joined by Eric Carter (Delaware), Jonathan Kasibabu (Fairfield), CJ Massinburg (Buffalo), Charles Matthews (Michigan), Quinndary Weatherspoon (Mississippi State).

There was no mistaking who the headliner was on this day. Weatherpoon’s stock has been steadily rising during the draft process. The 6-4 guard could be a second-round steal for a team during the June 20 draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

But Edwards was the main attraction

The Sixers have the 24th overall pick and four second-round selections — Nos. 33, 34, 42 and 54 — in the draft. Edwards could go anywhere from late in the first round to early in the second.

What he lacks in height, the muscular 199-pounder more than makes up for with a 6-6 wingspan. He also has a solid low center of gravity and quick feet, which enables him to beat opponents to spots.

At his size, one would assume that Edwards would have to play point guard in the NBA. However, Eversley thinks he’ll play a little bit off the ball.

“His height is not as much a deterrent in terms of potentially fitting in with us,” the executive said. "I wouldn’t get caught up on the height thing with him.

“He’s got a big heart. He plays hard. He competes. And again, he can really, really shoot the ball.”

His ability to create shots and score might be his pathway to the NBA.

Edwards averaged career bests of 24.3 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals as primarily a shooting guard this past season as a junior. He also made 35.5 percent of his three-pointers.

He is lightning quick on the ball and gets almost any shot he likes, despite being undersized.

Villanova can attest to that. Edwards finished with 42 points, making 9 of 16 three-pointers, in the Boilermakers’ 87-61 victory over the Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.

While going into a Philly-based Chipotle on Tuesday. Two people inside the restaurant recognized him and brought up the game.

“I said, ‘Yeah, that’s me,’ ” he said. "But, I mean, it’s cool. It was a blessing to be able to play that way, and be on that stage and do that things I did.

“I’m going to continue to work and be the best player I can be.”

His quest is to show teams that his size won’t be a hindrance on the defensive end.

The Texas native has worked out for the Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, and Brooklyn Nets in addition to the Sixers. He has workouts scheduled for the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and another team he couldn’t remember.

His height will probably be a hot topic during his next stops, too.

But Edwards said standing below 6-1 never came into question until he worked out for NBA teams last year before opting to go back to college for another season.

“Honestly, I don’t even really look at the size,” Edwards said. “I feel like if you produce, if do the things that help your team win, and be productive on the floor, I feel like size doesn’t matter.”