Next star basketball recruit on Kentucky’s visit list was one of summer’s top risers
Yet another elite basketball prospect in the 2023 class is coming to Kentucky for an official visit, and this one has already let it be known that UK would be at the top of his list if the Wildcats continue to show serious interest.
Justin Edwards — a 6-foot-7 small forward from Philadelphia — is scheduled to be in Lexington this weekend for the first official visit of a recruitment that has exploded in recent months. The Nike league standout jumped from No. 56 to No. 11 in the 247Sports rankings for the 2023 class a few weeks ago. That followed a summer that saw him earn scholarship offers from Virginia, UConn, Auburn, Georgetown and several other top programs, adding to what was already an impressive list.
Kentucky might be the next school to go all-in on Edwards’ recruitment.
John Calipari has already been to Pennsylvania twice this fall to meet with the high school junior, and UK has extended scholarship offers to a handful of his fellow 2023 recruits when they’ve been on campus in recent weeks.
Edwards has shown over the past few months that he’s deserving of the attention.
“He’s one of the most well-rounded players in the class,” 247Sports analyst Travis Branham told the Herald-Leader. “He’s very advanced when it comes to his skill set and his feel for the game. This is a kid that scores it from all three levels. He’s got a good jumper. He can create his own shot. But he plays the game the right way. He’s a really good passer. He just kind of takes what the defense gives him. So if he’s given an opportunity to go score the ball, he’s going to go score the ball. If the defense collapses on him and there’s an opportunity for him to spread the ball out and get it to his teammates for open shots, he’s going to do that.
“He’s a good defender. He has a mature approach to the game. He’s competitive. Just a very high floor.”
Edwards impressed early in the spring with the Team Final U16 squad. By the end of the summer, he was playing with the senior team on the Nike circuit, getting quality minutes at the Peach Jam championships in July alongside star recruits like Jalen Duren and Dereck Lively II. That team ended up winning the Peach Jam title, the biggest prize on the summer grassroots circuit.
Team Final program director Rob Brown said Edwards played more of a “3-4” role on the 16Us this year, showing enough versatility to defend the “2” through “5” spots at a high level. Once he got moved up to the older team — which featured Duren and Lively, the top two frontcourt players in the entire league — Edwards was able to show off more of his outside game.
“He’s getting better with his perimeter skills,” Brown said. “When he first came to us in the seventh or eighth grade, he was more of an inside player — long, rangy power forward. And he’s really diversified his game, refined his outside shot. He continues to work on his ball handling. He’s doing a good job cleaning up his game.”
Brown said Edwards — a left-handed player — is continuing to work on handling the ball with his right hand and driving in that direction. He’s already adept at finishing at the rim, and his pull-up game is turning into a major weapon.
As Edwards showed this summer, he can also blend into a roster with other ultra-talented players and find ways to make an impact.
“He’s always been a very humble guy,” Brown said. “Even though he’s like a star player, he doesn’t have the attitude of, ‘Look at me. I need the ball. I need my touches. I need my shots.’ He plays within the flow. And because of that, a lot of kids want to play with him. He’s a very good teammate, a very gracious teammate.”
Justin Edwards and Kentucky
That team-first mentality — along with his overall skill set — has clearly caught Calipari’s eye.
UK is already pursuing a number of talented wings in the 2023 class, and Edwards appears to be the type of prospect that could co-exist with another similarly positioned player.
“It’s his skill set blended with that IQ and feel for the game that kind of separates him,” Branham said. “Not many kids have that feel to make the right plays in the heat of the moment, and then also bring the same approach that he does. He brings it on both ends of the floor. He plays with discipline. For the most part, he has a good shot selection. He rebounds. He just plays the game the right way, something that many kids don’t learn until later in their years.”
Edwards still has two more years of high school in front of him, but he’s getting a head start on his recruitment.
Brown said Edwards has already taken unofficial visits to Maryland, Penn State, UConn and Villanova — where he attended midnight madness festivities — over the past few months. Additional major programs are also likely to get involved as the high school season heats up.
Kentucky does appear to be in a great starting position, however.
Edwards told 247Sports back in June that UK was his dream school growing up and the one program that he was hoping to hear more from as his recruitment progressed. That wish obviously came true.
“It’s still early in the recruiting process for him. There’s still a lot to play out,” Branham said. “I do think, if Kentucky prioritizes him, they are the team to beat. But, obviously, there are other wings on Kentucky’s board that they are going after.”
UK has already extended offers to forwards Kwame Evans Jr. (No. 2 in the 247Sports rankings), Mackenzie Mgbako (No. 3), Mookie Cook (No. 5) and JJ Taylor (No. 6), while showing interest in some other players at the position. The Cats appear to be in great shape early on in some of those recruitments.
So, it’ll be interesting to see what happens between Edwards and Kentucky over the next few days, stretching on into his junior season. Perhaps a UK offer will come on this trip, and Edwards will officially join that top tier of 2023 targets. Perhaps Kentucky’s coaches will want to see more over the next few weeks and months.
“It’s very wing heavy in the 2023 class,” Branham said. “And Kentucky is obviously involved with the best ones.”
