Should we start panicking about Justin Edwards, a rookie winger for Kentucky basketball?
With a record of 12-2 and a strong chance of ranking among the Top 5 when the AP Poll is updated the following week, John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats are difficult to find many reasons to be unhappy with.
They have three outstanding rookies in DJ Wagner, Rob Dillingham, and Reed Sheppard, along with experienced guard Antonio Reeves. Tre Mitchell, a tiny but extremely effective big man, leads them in scoring, while the recent arrivals of freshman Aaron Bradshaw and senior Ugonna Onyenso have given the frontcourt greater variety and depth.
In addition to being one of the top 40 teams in the nation in two-point field goal %, assists, blocks, and turnovers per game, they are a superb three-point shooting squad.
But if there’s any worry brewing in Big Blue Country, it’s probably over highly-regarded rookie wing Justin Edwards.
Though many believed Edwards could develop into a two-way superstar wing who could be selected first overall in the 2024 NBA draft, it is becoming increasingly obvious that he is unlikely to reach that potential with half of the season already completed. Edwards was considered one of the best freshmen in the nation when he arrived in Lexington.
The 6’8 wing is currently averaging just 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds on the year after a quiet game against Missouri on Tuesday night, where he finished with just four points and two rebounds on 2-7 shooting in 20 minutes.
With little under 24 minutes played each night and a strong 57.3% two-point field goal percentage, he has started all 14 of the ‘Cats’ games. However, at this moment, coach Calipari isn’t getting much more from him. Specifically, Kentucky has struggled with his terrible shooting, as he is currently only 23.7% from three and only 68.2% from the free throw line.
Facilitation isn’t one of his strong points; he averages just 0.9 assists per game. His length and quickness also don’t convert into many defensive advantages, as he only manages 1.0 steals and 0.4 blocks per game.
Though many believed he would aid this Kentucky squad, the majority of these problems are more troubling for his NBA draft stock, which has fallen even in an increasingly poor draft class.
Freshmen all develop at various speeds, and Calipari whose willingness to allow young players make errors and grow is regarded as one of his finer traits is the only coach in college basketball who is more familiar with this than any other.
This team’s prospects of defeating the NCAA Tournament demons that have dogged them for the last few years would be greatly increased by having a star two-way wing, but Edwards’ ceiling is quickly approaching.