Good players play well when everything is going well for their team.

Great players, however, play best when the team needs them most.

In the past few weeks, sophomore Jason Edwin has done just that for the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team.

Edwin has brought intensity to the court in each game for the Billikens and has quietly transformed himself into one of Conference USA’s most productive players.

“I try to come out and do the best I can to help the team,” Edwin said. My scoring is what has helped this team the most of late. I feel like the way I have played has shown people just what I can do and what I am best at out on the court.”

Edwin, a 6’5″ guard, has been one of the few consistencies in a roller-coaster-type season for the struggling Billikens.

He began the season on the bench, but early woes for the Billikens brought Edwin into the starting lineup.

After the Christmas holiday, the St. Thomas, Virgin Islands native put together an impressive string of scoring double-figures in nine straight games, including a 14-point outing at Dayton. The contest against Marquette marked the end of Edwin’s streak

With his consistent scoring and smooth, mistake-free style of play, Edwin had found his way into the Bills starting lineup the old-fashioned way.

He earned it.

“Starting out the season I knew I had the potential to get in the starting lineup,” Edwin said. “I know Coach Romar could see that potential. I wasn’t playing the best I could though.

“Coach knew I had more ability than I was showing. Starting out on the bench motivated me to come out and play better. Coach knew I had it in me, and I have come on strong,” Edwin said.

Dropping their last three contests to Cincinnati, Marquette and Southern Mississippi, the Bills have slipped to 9-12 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

The team is still in search of their rhythm after losing Marque Perry for key games against Charlotte, East Carolina and Cincinnati. In urgent need of an on-court leader in those games, Edwin quickly rose to the challenge.

Perry has returned to the Billikens’ lineup, but Edwin’s productivity has not faltered.

“I come to play every game. I don’t want to leave a game knowing that I didn’t do the best I could do. I am trying to fill that void that the team needs wherever it might be.”

In Tuesday night’s contest against Southern Mississippi, Edwin led the Billikens with a 14-point performance. SLU, however, had little else to cheer about in a 65-46 drubbing at the hands of the Golden Eagles.

He averages just over 10 points per game for the Billikens, second only to Perry.

Edwin is also shooting an impressive 43 percent behind the three-point arc and is averaging 3.4 rebounds per game.

As the season carries on and March grows near, conference match-ups gain importance.

Fortunately, it is Edwin who has been most comfortable battling within the treacherous league contests.

He leads the Billikens in scoring in conference games. And that may be the tip off the iceberg for Edwin this year.

“Every day and every game I am gaining more confidence in myself so I know if the opportunity does come I can make that big shot. I know that if the team needs me I can come up big for them.”

Edwin’s relentlessness on the court has given Billiken fans and his teammates something to cheer about every time he suits up in the Billiken blue.

In just two seasons, Edwin has not only made his mark with the Billikens, he has made quite the statement in the conference.