Justin Edwards is No. 1 in CBS Sports' 2024 NBA Draft Big Board

Does John Calipari have his next No. 1 draft pick? CBS Sports thinks so, with freshman wing Justin Edwards sitting atop the outlet’s new 2024 NBA Draft Big Board.

The 6-7 wing out of Philadelphia closed as the No. 2 overall prospect and No. 1 small forward in the final 2023 On3 Industry Rankings. And after a strong showing with the Wildcats in Toronto at the GLOBL JAM averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 24.8 minutes per contest, the experts believe he’s deserving of the top spot in next June’s draft — for now, at least.

“Our new No. 1, again with the caveat that this could absolutely change in the coming months, is Kentucky freshman forward Justin Edwards,” Kyle Boone of CBS Sports wrote this week. “Edwards showcased scoring, playmaking and creation for Kentucky in a short stint with the Wildcats in Canada, helping UK bring home hardware despite being limited with injuries to their frontcourt.

“The former five-star has the physical stature and maturity to be an impact player on and off the ball with a rare blend of length, athleticism and ball skills that makes his projection to the NBA level a natural one.”

Edwards is the lone Wildcat in the top 10 — the extent of the outlet’s board. Elsewhere, the G League Ignite has three prospects, followed by UConn and Duke with two apiece.

1. Justin Edwards – Kentucky
2. Ron Holland – G League Ignite
3. Isaiah Collier – USC
4. Stephon Castle – UConn
5. Donovan Clingan – UConn
6. Matas Buzelis – G League Ignite
7. Alexandre Sarr – Perth Wildcats
8. Tyrese Proctor – Duke
9. Izan Almansa – G League Ignite
10. Kyle Filipowski – Duke

Edwards is No. 1 with The Athletic, as well

The five-star wing also came in at No. 1 in The Athletic’s first 2024 NBA Mock Draft back in August, ahead of Holland, Almansa, Buzelis, Collier, Proctor, Clingan and Sarr, in that order, with Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter and Providence’s Garwey Dual rounding out the top 10.

“Edwards is an athletic, bigger wing who has a well-rounded game. He consistently plays hard and has excellent feel for the game. Defensively, he’s all sorts of versatile and plays with attention to detail across the board,” Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote. “I’d expect Edwards to have an enormous impact. He’ll be Kentucky’s best player this year.”

DJ Wagner (No. 22) and Aaron Bradshaw (No. 38) rounded out Kentucky’s other draft picks for The Athletic, leaving off the likes of Rob Dillingham, Zvonimir Ivisic, Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard and Ugonna Onyenso.

Where do you think the Wildcats finish on the draft boards, BBN?