Justin Edwards went undrafted within the 2024 NBA Draft. The previous Kentucky wing is the first top-3 recruit to go undrafted within the historical past of internet-era recruiting rankings (no top-3 prospect, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, had ever fallen out of the primary spherical earlier than Edwards).
Reed Sheppard’s catapult up draft boards to being the No. 3 decide by Houston and the primary American off the board is sort of too absurd for a Hollywood script. However Sheppard’s outstanding surge is carefully correlated with quite a few high prospects within the Class of 2023 failing to satisfy expectations.
Edwards is one among ’em, however he is removed from alone. 5-star Isaiah Collier, as soon as the top-rated recruit in his class, dropped all the way in which all the way down to Utah at No. 29. Aaron Bradshaw and DJ Wagner, fellow five-stars who headlined Kentucky’s ballyhooed recruiting class, had underwhelming freshman seasons and hit the switch portal after John Calipari dipped for Arkansas. Michigan State’s Xavier Booker, Iowa State’s Omaha Biliew and UCLA’s Aday Mara have been all as soon as projected as potential first-round picks, however the trio struggled to even get on the ground in school.
The highest prospects within the Class of 2023 struggled mightily, and Edwards — who ranked thirtieth in CBS Sports activities’ prospect rankings forward of the draft — was not immune.
Explaining what went awry for Justin Edwards
“The fact is that nothing was what we anticipated at Kentucky this yr,” mentioned Adam Finkelstein, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting. “Sheppard was approach higher than anybody anticipated. Rob Dillingham too. Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw all underachieved relative to their five-star expectations.”
Edwards’ recreation is much from damaged. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing shot over 37% on 82 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. However he was merely an off-ball, play-finisher for a Kentucky squad anchored by a backcourt trio of professionals. Sheppard, Rob Dillingham (No. 8 to Minnesota) and Antonio Reeves (No. 47 to New Orleans) earned the highlight. Edwards’ minutes fluctuated considerably all through the season, and he had the sixth-highest utilization price on his personal staff. Behind Dillingham. Behind Reeves. Behind Sheppard. Behind Wagner.
“An enormous a part of constructing draft inventory is selecting match,” mentioned Travis Branham, 247Sports’ Nationwide Basketball Analyst who scouted Edwards extensively in highschool. “Calipari is thought for his guard play and sadly for Edwards, he picked Kentucky once they had a roster loaded with guards that Calipari would inevitably play via. It resulted in him falling between the cracks and dropping confidence which led to inconsistent outcomes on the courtroom and now being undrafted.”
A freshman season gone awry took a toll on him. Edwards advised The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker that Sheppard related him with a psychological well being coach through the season.
“The best way they discuss gamers, I really feel like they do not do not forget that we’re human,” Edwards advised The Athletic. “Coming in, everyone anticipated me to be the highest man that individuals mentioned I used to be — and I nonetheless imagine I’m — they usually have been indignant once I wasn’t. However me going via that early a part of the season helped me be the particular person I’m right now.”
The late-season flashes, like a 28-point displaying in opposition to Alabama or 16 factors in a street win over Dalton Knecht and Tennessee within the regular-season finale, gave credence to the idea that Edwards had discovered the power to maneuver previous failing to satisfy his personal lofty expectations. Edwards, who’s repped by Klutch, might have returned to varsity (like Wagner and Bradshaw) and tried to emulate the Kel’el Ware mannequin. The five-star massive man had a tough freshman season at Oregon however transferred to Indiana the place he shined. Miami chosen Ware Wednesday with the No. 15 decide.
“Edwards wager on his potential to hold him within the draft course of,” Finkelstein mentioned. “There’s loads of precedent to counsel that may work: Peyton Watson in 2022, Dariq Whitehead and Nick Smith in 2023, and even AJ Johnson this yr. So, whereas the season did not go as Edwards hoped, the pre-draft course of clearly did not both for no matter cause.”
Edwards’ athletic testing on the NBA Mix left a lot to be desired. The 6-foot-10 wingspan is a constructive, however a 32.5-inch max vertical and iffy agility scores raised questions on his explosiveness.
Edwards, as soon as thought-about a possible No. 1 decide, is now compelled to play his approach into the NBA with few ensures. Edwards signed along with his hometown staff, the Philadelphia 76ers, on a two-way deal. And now, we wait to find whether or not Edwards turns into an unbelievable story of resilience or a cautionary story.
“We solely noticed the Justin Edwards from highschool in glimpses,” Branham mentioned.