Kentucky freshman Justin Edwards tabbed to Preseason Player of the Year Watch List

Justin Edwards, Kentucky men’s basketball’s top-ranked freshman, has hauled in another impressive preseason honor.

On Monday morning, Edwards was one of 50 players named to the Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year Watch List. He is one of just two freshmen to crack the list, joining Southern California rookie point guard Isaiah Collier, and is one of eight SEC players. Since the award’s inception in 1969, only two Kentucky players have won it — Anthony Davis in 2012 (one of only four freshmen to do so) and Oscar Tshiebwe in 2022.

Edwards made his college debut on Monday night during Kentucky’s 86-46 season-opening win over New Mexico State. In 28 minutes played for the Wildcats, he finished with 12 points on 5-11 shooting (2-5 3PT) to go along with five rebounds, one assist, two steals, and three turnovers. He’ll suit up again for Kentucky on Friday when the ‘Cats host Texas A&M-Commerce in Rupp Arena at 7:00 p.m. EST on the SEC Network+.

Freshman guard Justin Edwards is among the preseason list of 50 players recognized as early candidates for the @NaismithTrophy Men’s Player of the Year. https://t.co/WJz2OlXblV

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 6, 2023

This isn’t the only preseason recognition for Edwards either. The 6-foot-7 wing was also tabbed as a First-Team All-Southeastern Conference preseason pick by the media, a Second-Team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches, and even made the Julius Erving Award (nation’s best small forward) Watch List. During Kentucky’s two exhibition matchups against Georgetown College and Kentucky State, the Philadelphia, PA native averaged 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds on 50 percent overall shooting.

Coming to Lexington, Edwards was considered the No. 2 overall high school recruit from the class of 2023 by the On3 Industry Ranking. Only the aforementioned Collier was ranked ahead of him. Looking ahead, outlets such as ESPN and The Athletic have tabbed Edwards as a potential top-five pick in next year’s 2024 NBA Draft. Long, athletic wings who can play both ends of the floor like Edwards are highly sought-after prospects by NBA front offices.

But first, he’ll play out a hopefully special season with Kentucky.

2023-24 Naismith Men’s Player of the Year Watch List

NAME	CLASS	POSITION	SCHOOL
Max Abmas	Grad Student	G	Texas
Trey Alexander	Junior	G	Creighton
Armando Bacot	Grad Student	F/C	North Carolina
Oumar Ballo	Senior	C	Arizona
Reece Beekman	Senior	G	Virginia
Adem Bona	Sophomore	F/C	UCLA
Trevon Brazile	Sophomore	F	Arkansas
Johni Broome	Junior	F/C	Auburn
Boo Buie	Grad Student	G	Northwestern
Donovan Clingan	Sophomore	C	UConn
Isaiah Collier	Freshman	G	USC
L.J. Cryer	Senior	G	Houston
Tristan da Silva	Senior	F	Colorado
Johnell Davis	Junior	G	FAU
RJ Davis	Senior	G	North Carolina
Tucker DeVries	Junior	G/F	Drake
Hunter Dickinson	Senior	C	Kansas
Zach Edey	Senior	C	Purdue
Justin Edwards	Freshman	G	Kentucky
Boogie Ellis	Fifth Year	G	USC
Kyle Filipowski	Sophomore	C	Duke
PJ Hall	Senior	C	Clemson
Dajuan Harris Jr.	Junior	G	Kansas
A.J. Hoggard	Senior	G	Michigan State
DaRon Holmes II	Junior	F	Dayton
Bryce Hopkins	Junior	F/G	Providence
Kam Jones	Junior	G	Marquette
Ryan Kalkbrenner	Senior	C	Creighton
Tyler Kolek	Senior	G	Marquette
Caleb Love	Senior	G	Arizona
Aidan Mahaney	Sophomore	G	Saint Mary’s
Alijah Martin	Junior	G	FAU
Kevin McCullar Jr.	Senior	G	Kansas
Judah Mintz	Sophomore	G	Syracuse
Justin Moore	Grad Student	G	Villanova
Grant Nelson	Senior	F	Alabama
Ryan Nembhard	Junior	G	Gonzaga
Norchad Omier	Junior	F	Miami
Clifford Omoruyi	Senior	C	Rutgers
Nijel Pack	Junior	G	Miami
Tylor Perry	Fifth Year	G	Kansas State
Tyrese Proctor	Sophomore	G	Duke
Terrence Shannon Jr.	Fifth Year	G	Illinois
Jamal Shead	Senior	G	Houston
Tolu Smith	Grad Student	F	Mississippi State
Isaiah Stevens	Grad Student	G	Colorado State
Wade Taylor IV	Junior	G	Texas A&M
Santiago Vescovi	Fifth Year	G	Tennessee
Tyson Walker	Grad Student	G	Michigan State
Jahmir Young	Fifth Year	G	Maryland