Justin Edwards getting back to what worked early in the season: 'I feel like I'm starting to turn the corner.'

Justin Edwards‘ freshman campaign can be split into three different timelines: non-conference competition, a rough midseason slump, and his current resurgence.

Through his first 11 games as a Kentucky Wildcat, the 6-foot-8 wing averaged 9.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 25 minutes per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field. Nothing eye-popping, but a steady contributor on a team that started the season 9-2.

Over his next eight games, Edwards’ numbers plummeted. During that stretch from late December to late January, the former five-star high school recruit saw his stats take a nose dive: 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 18 minutes per game while shooting 41.7 percent overall. Not only did his numbers tank, but so did his NBA Draft stock. Questions about his starting role became an every-game talking point.

Edwards came off the bench for the first time all season against Arkansas on Jan. 27. A quad injury in practice ahead of Kentucky’s home matchup against Florida on Jan. 31 couldn’t have come at a worse time — or at least that’s what we all thought. He sat out against the Gators.

But something seemed to click while he was on the mend. Over his last four games since coming back from injury, he’s averaging 11 points and 2.8 rebounds in 23 minutes per game on a 45.5 percent shooting clip. A career-high 17 points against Vanderbilt got him rolling.

Slowly but surely, he’s regaining his confidence on the court.

“My teammates believing in me,” Edwards said on Friday about what helped him get back on track. “Me and Coach (Calipari) talk all the time about just staying the course. He believes in me and knows how hard I work and he tells me all the time that it’s not gonna happen on my time and I feel like I’m starting to turn the corner.“

But what exactly sparked Edwards’ improved play? Was it the tweak that Calipari mentioned (create for others, then hunt for his shot) after his standout performance against Vanderbilt? That was surely part of it, but Edwards also says it has to do with getting back to what was working for him early in the season against those non-conference opponents — when he was more aggressive without the ball in his hands.

“I feel like I started off the season like that, just cutting off ball and stuff,” Edwards added. “I feel like I went away from it, I feel like the last couple of games I started to get back to that. Cutting and rebounding and stuff like that.”

Edwards has also altered his approach to the game from an off-the-court perspective. He’s been staying off social media more. A mental health coach has provided new ways to navigate the responsibility of being a highly-rated recruit playing college basketball at Kentucky. Conversations with mom always help, too.

“I have talks with my mom. I have a mental health coach, I feel like that helped a lot,” Edwards said of what’s aided him in getting to this point. “My team and my coaches believing in me and telling me to stay the course.

“Probably the main thing that I’ve took is not letting negative thoughts take control of my mind.“

He has no shortage of supporters in his corner, especially his teammates. They’ve all been eager to talk about Edwards’ big games in postgame press conferences. From his teammates to his coaches to the fans, everyone wants to see Edwards succeed (it’ll also make Kentucky better overall heading into the postseason).

“He’s been very positive throughout the whole process. He’s always been positive, keeping his head up,” Kentucky freshman DJ Wagner said of Edwards. “I feel like when you got that mindset, something good is bound to happen for you, no matter what. No matter how you playing or what you’re going through, as long as you keep a positive mindset you’re gonna be good. He’s been showing that. He’s been playing good. In my eyes, he’s been playing good all season but just for him keeping that positive mindset, he’s been having the games he’s been having.”

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