Justin Edwards eager to make college decision: "There's no need to wait"

In just seven days — the Monday after Peach Jam on July 25 — Justin Edwards will make his college decision.

A five-star wing from the class of 2023, Edwards is down to just two potential options: Kentucky and Tennessee. The Volunteers were trending as the perceived leader throughout most of 2022, but a late push from UK head coach John Calipari has the ‘Cats in good shape heading down the final stretch.

Edwards has been a highly-valued prospect for roughly two years, answering the same questions from both coaches and the media over and over again. At this point in his recruitment, he’s ready to close the book on this chapter of his life, but only because he already knows which school he wants to attend.

“I feel like I know where I want to go so there’s no need to wait. So might as well just get to it,” Edwards told KSR on Monday.

Kentucky initially offered Edwards last fall during his official visit to Lexington. He was one of the first few ’23 recruits to earn a UK scholarship. At that early stage in his process, the ‘Cats had the inside edge. Associate coach Orlando Antigua put Kentucky in a terrific position with the On3 Consensus’ No. 10 overall prospect.

But Tennessee swung the momentum back their way into the spring. The Vols’ assistant coach Rod Clark was running the recruitment for UT, pitching him as a do-it-all player for UT who could get his shots up in plenty.

Then, John Calipari took over…

“It’s Coach Calipari, so if he’s reaching out to you more than all the other coaches, it must mean something, so that’s a big thing to me,” Edwards said.

Since Calipari assumed the lead role in Edwards’s recruitment, Kentucky has been trending as the leader. Several expert prediction picks have been pouring in over the last few days, all of them favoring the ‘Cats.

It’s not a forgone conclusion, though. Nothing in recruiting ever feels like a “done deal”. But we at least know that Edwards has already made up his mind. He added that his choice has been made based on how at ease he feels within that particular program.

“How comfortable I am and how they’re able to play me,” Edwards said of what he’s looking for in a school. “I want to be able to go there and be myself on the court and off the court.”

And what exactly does that look like in his mind?

“I’m a goofy kid. I don’t want to have to go to a school that has to change my personality,” Edwards added.

Justin Edwards shining at Peach Jam

Even though the most important decision of his life thus far is just a week away, Edwards needs a clear mind. He’s suiting up for Team Final at the 2022 Nike Peach Jam event in North Augusta, SC, his final run on the AAU circuit before making the leap to college this time next year.

Through two games this week on Sunday and Monday, Edwards has looked the part of a bonafide five-star recruit. He even outplayed current Kentucky commit Robert Dillingham and his Team CP3 squad in Monday’s action with a thrilling 61-58 victory. Edwards dropped 17 points and three steals in the win, flying around the floor all game long and making his impact felt on every possession. It was one of his better games the entire AAU season.

That being said, Edwards did struggle shooting the ball in the first half against Dillingham and CP3. A few months ago, he might have put his head down and shied away in the second half. But his mindset has shifted dramatically and it’s been put on full display at Peach Jam.

“I feel like that was a struggle for me at the beginning of the year,” Edwards said. “When I used to shoot and I wasn’t making it, I shut down. Now that I’m getting better, I’ve found other ways to impact the game like defensively, rebounding, all the little stuff that matters the most.”

It’s all of that other little stuff that separates Edwards from the pack. When he’s locked in on both ends of the floor, there might not be a better overall professional prospect in the ’23 class. His defense is second-to-none. Against CP3, Edwards told KSR he had zero rebounds in the first half. How many did he finish the game with?

“13.”