It's a battle of Tennessee vs. Kentucky for 5-star Justin Edwards

2023 five-star wing Justin Edwards is favoring two SEC rivals in his recruitment, with Kentucky and Tennessee separating themselves from the pack. The Wildcats were seen as the early favorites, with the Volunteers later coming in as a legitimate threat.

Kentucky and Tennessee emerge

Now, the 6-foot-7 wing isn’t afraid to call it like it is. As things stand, those two schools stand alone in his recruitment, with others battling behind.

“Right now, yeah (it is between Kentucky and Tennessee),” he told KSR at the 2022 Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas this week. “I’m fine with it.”

Auburn has been seen as a potential option in recent months, likely the darkhorse contender behind the Cats and Vols. Now? Contact with the Tigers is minimal, again highlighting the two-horse race this has become.

“I don’t really have a big relationship with them,” he said. “We talk, they send me quotes like every Monday, motivational quotes, stuff like that. But not much more than that.”

Tennessee makes Edwards top priority

Edwards is a player who expects to do “everything” when he steps out on the floor, he tells KSR. “Leading, scoring, rebounding, playing defense, all the little stuff.” His two-way growth has paved the path for his status as a top-10 talent in the rising senior class.

It’s also why the duo of SEC programs are tripping over themselves to sign Edwards. He sees it, and it’s why they’re both at the top of his priority list, as well.

The catch: Tennessee is pitching Edwards on being the guy, the team’s lone recruiting target at his position. Kentucky is recruiting

“I’m their main priority,” Edwards said of Tennessee. “They make me feel comfortable, and I’m big on that. I’m big on family. They say they want to build around me, stuff like that.”

Kentucky casts wide net on wings

The same can’t be said about Kentucky. While the Volunteers have pushed all their chips in on Edwards, the Wildcats are also recruiting standout wings Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Andrej Stojakovic and JJ Taylor.

Unfortunately for Kentucky, Edwards has noticed. The top-10 prospect says it won’t be the final deciding factor in his recruitment, but it clearly stands out.

“I look at how many wings they’re recruiting in our class,” Edwards told KSR. “Kentucky is recruiting probably four other five-stars. That doesn’t really determine me going there or not, but, you know? I’m the main priority for Tennessee wing-wise. I don’t think they’re recruiting another wing.”

A fall decision

The Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep Charter star cut his list down to seven in April, with Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn, Maryland, Kansas, Villanova, and the G-League remaining in contention. UT and UK are the top dogs on his list among colleges, with the G League also looming as a potential threat, as well — Program Director Rod Strickland was in attendance to watch Edwards throughout the week in Las Vegas.

With options being narrowed down and favorites emerging, the five-star prospect sees a final decision on the horizon, likely in the coming months.

“I don’t really know right now. Maybe around September, I would say,” he told KSR. “But I don’t know.”

Edwards is rated as the No. 11 overall prospect and No. 3 small forward in the latest On3 Player Rankings.