AJ Edu, a member of the Gilas Pilipinas 23 for 2023 pool, has committed to play college ball for NCAA Division I school University of Toledo.
The news was announced on the school's official athletics site. Edu also revealed the news through his personal Twitter account.
"I am very honored and blessed to announce that I am achieving my dream of playing Division 1 basketball and committing to the University of Toledo," Edu said in his tweet.
"This is a decision that my family and I took our time and prayed over and believe is the perfect place for me to further boost my basketball career and my academics."
University of Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk said he is "thrilled to have AJ become a member of our program."
"He's a very long, athletic, skilled individual who has an unbelievable upside to his game. AJ wants to learn and be in a position that he gets better every year. I told him that this is the place for him to do that. I think he has a chance to be a really special player," said Kowalczyk.
I am Blessed, honoured and excited to commit to the University of Toledo 🙏🚀🚀 #gorockets pic.twitter.com/mCHyP0aUYS
— AJ Edu (@ArielJohnEdu) April 12, 2018
Edu posted averages of 18.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game for South Gloucestershire & Stroud College this year, earning him first-team All-Elite Academy Basketball League West Conference honors as well as a West Conference's Defensive Player of the Year award.
The 18-year-old represented the Philippines in the 2017 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Chengdu, China and was also part Basketball Without Borders Global Camp -- a camp for the top 67 boys from 36 countries chosen by the NBA -- in this year's All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
The Toledo Rockets, which are part of the Mid-American Conference, placed second in the MAC tournament after losing to Buffalo in the championship game.
They finished with a record of 23-11 but failed to secure a berth in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, where they have made four appearances in the past.