Xavier Edmonds has become one of the most sought-after junior college prospects in recent years after an impressive freshman campaign at Salt Lake CC. The 6'9", 240-pound forward continued his rapid trajectory with a strong performance during the July live period, capped off by being named the MVP of the All-American JUCO Showcase Invitational.

As a freshman, Edmonds averaged 14 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.1 SPG while shooting 55% from the field. His game has continued to develop during the off-season, and he has shown his ability to score inside and out with an improved handle and a consistent stroke from beyond the three-point line. He has the frame to handle the rigors and physicality of interior post play at the high-major level while also having the versatility to step out on the perimeter and extend the defense. Edmonds has also continued to display his impressive passing ability from the low post, high post, and perimeter.

He currently holds offers from TCU, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Cal, Cincinnati, Xavier, USC, Nebraska, Missouri, Oregon, Oklahoma, and LSU. He discussed his progress and development at the JUCO level and also elaborated on his upcoming visits and recruiting timeline. Here's our Q&A with Xavier Edmonds:

BW: When did you get comfortable with the transition from the high school level to the JUCO level during your freshman year?

XE: Very early in the season, I began to adjust to this level. We had a lot of preseason jamborees, workouts, and practices, so I knew where I stood and how I fit in with the team. The game slowed down for me very early, and I was able to let the game come to me. I also realized early on how good the competition was at the JUCO level and knew where my game needed to be to excel.

BW: You had an excellent first year at Salt Lake, which continued into the summer with a dominant performance during the July live period at the All-American JUCO Showcase Invitational. How did you adjust so quickly at the JUCO level as a true freshman?

XE: I came into JUCO with nothing to prove and didn't put any pressure on myself. I didn't have to rush anything and was able to get comfortable and let my game come to me. I really like the quote from Bruce Lee, "Be like water," and base my game around it. Whatever role I was given, I just accepted it and adapted. I was there for my teammates and coaches and was ready to play any role needed to help the team win.

BW: How do you feel you have changed as a player after one year of junior college basketball?

XE: The biggest change in my game since I arrived at the JUCO level has been my versatility on both ends. I realized how big I am and how physical and dominant I could be. I began taking advantage of mismatches based on who was guarding me. If I had an undersized forward or guard on me, I knew I had a mismatch and could score in the low post. If I had a bigger defender on me, I knew I could still score in the post but also began to expand my game and take them out on the perimeter. I was able to beat them off the dribble from the high post or beyond the three-point line. As the game slowed down, I was able to get my teammates involved more and make the right reads and passes. I also extended the range on my jump shot and started extending the floor and making threes. Overall, I just started to score from all three levels while also focusing on my defensive versatility.

BW: What areas of your game are you focusing on this off-season from a developmental standpoint?

XE: I've been working on becoming more versatile on the defensive end and have really focused on being able to guard on the perimeter while also continuing to work on my low post defense. I have focused on defending 2 through 5 and have all the intangibles to do it. I've also continued to expand my versatility on the offensive end by tightening up my handle and extending my range well beyond the three-point line. Passing and getting my teammates involved has always been a big part of my game, so I always focus on that when I'm working on things in the off-season.

BW: You showed a more versatile offensive game this summer with the ability to handle the ball on the perimeter and knock down threes consistently. As your offensive game continues to expand, what role do you see yourself playing at the next level, and how do you think your game will translate?

XE: At the next level, I see myself as being a four-man who can take advantage of my versatility on both ends to help impact winning. I just want to be in a good situation where I can help my team win in a variety of ways. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help the team by scoring, defending, moving the ball, and making the extra pass. Just doing whatever it takes to win games.

BW: You have offers from numerous high-major programs, with new offers consistently coming in. How has the recruiting process been so far?

XE: It's been a blessing to get the interest and offers from all of these schools. I was able to get adjusted as a freshman before receiving a lot of interest and offers, but it began to pick up very quickly later in the season and after playing well in July. It can be hectic at times with the amount of calls I've been getting from coaches, but I'm very appreciative of all of the interest. I have to give a lot of credit to how well we played last year and the position I was put in by my coaches and teammates.

BW: Have you set any official or unofficial visits yet, and what does your timeline look like from a recruiting standpoint?

XE: I've already taken an official visit to TCU, and that went well. I have a visit scheduled at the end of August with Texas A&M and have scheduled visits to Oregon and USC. I also plan on visiting Oklahoma but don't have a date scheduled for that yet. The plan is to make a decision and sign by the November signing period.

BW: What key factors are you considering when looking at potential schools?

XE: There are a lot of factors that I'm looking at before making a decision. I'm looking at what players they have in my position and also how well players in my position have done at each school. The style of play is important and if they run their offense through their bigs or if it is more guard-oriented. The coaching is very important as well. I'm looking at their resumes and the success they've had over the years with winning games and how their players have moved on to the pro level. The NBA is the ultimate goal for me, so I want to go somewhere that has a record of developing players and helping them move on to the highest level.