The latest on Kentucky's chances with 5-star wing Justin Edwards

2023 five-star wing Justin Edwards says he is ready to make a college decision, telling On3 he will be committing at EYBL’s Peach Jam, which runs from July 17-24.

“I got my mind on committing at Peach Jam,” Edwards said Thursday. “That’s something I want to do, just to get it over with.”

The 6-foot-7 wing previously cut his list to seven options, with Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Villanova, Maryland, Kansas and the G-League Ignite remaining in consideration. He said Thursday, though, the pro route is no longer an option, meaning the G-League is out.

“No more pro options, I’m going to college,” Edwards told On3.

Of the remaining schools in consideration, the five-star guard told KSR in early June his decision would likely come down to Kentucky and Tennessee — “Right now, yeah” — though he threw in Auburn as a potential option at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Orlando. Multiple sources tell KSR, though, that Edwards’ recruitment is expected to come down to the Wildcats and Volunteers, with the Tigers on the outside looking in.

Kentucky’s presence as a legitimate contender comes after contact ramped up between the two parties in April, with head coach John Calipari leading the charge.

“I’ve been talking to Coach Calipari more than other schools, just more,” Edwards told KSR in Orlando last week. “That’s made a big difference to me. It shows that I’m one of the main guys they’re going after, me talking to head coaches.”

The Wildcats’ push comes after Tennessee solidified itself as the firm leader in Edwards’ recruitment over the course of the last year. The Volunteers pitched the five-star wing on being the guy in Knoxville, the only player they are recruiting at his position. That’s something that has always appealed to him.

“They want me to go in and be the guy, help me get to where I want to be and stay there for a long time,” Edwards told KSR. “I have a family relationship with them. It’s a close, mutual relationship with them.”

It’s a battle of immediate opportunity for a star role in college vs. developing as a pro alongside other pros, and doing so on college basketball’s biggest stage. There are benefits and draws to both, and it’s why this decision has weighed so heavily on Edwards’ mind. On one end, Tennessee has done a tremendous job recruiting the five-star wing, making it clear he is the program’s top priority in the 2023 class from the start. On the other, Edwards favored Kentucky growing up and has dreams of playing in the NBA. After a slow start, the Wildcats have pushed all their chips in on him, a gesture Edwards and those around him have noticed and appreciated.

Now, the 6-foot-7 wing out of Philadelphia must pick a side, a decision he plans to make at Peach Jam in the coming weeks. That’s his goal, anyway.

Throughout the summer, though, national sources told KSR that Edwards was targeting a fall commitment, likely either September or October. And contrary to his recent comments regarding a decision timeline, those close to the prized recruit remain skeptical he’ll be ready to choose a school within the next week or two. “Don’t bank on it,” one source told KSR.

Part of the hesitation? Edwards’ mind is not made up, going back and forth between Tennessee and Kentucky seemingly by the day at this point. As of Saturday afternoon, the Wildcats held a very slight lead, sources tell KSR, but it remains a toss-up between the two SEC rivals. Some in recruiting circles believe the Peach Jam announcement timeline was a personal deadline for Edwards to help push himself toward a final decision, not because a school had already been chosen.

As for the programs involved, Kentucky is optimistic it has put itself in position to have a legitimate shot, but knows things aren’t wrapped up either way. Tennessee feels the pressure of closing against John Calipari and confidence has dipped a bit, but the total body of work still can’t be ignored.

Is Auburn completely out of the running? Sources close to the five-star prospect tell KSR that while Edwards would like to visit the program, the NCAA dead period (July 6-24) wouldn’t allow that to happen until after Peach Jam. Firmly in third place behind Kentucky and Tennessee, the Tigers have significant ground to make up in short order. Barring a major reset on Edwards’ part, that’s not likely to happen at this point in the process.

Kentucky and Tennessee are contenders 1A and 1B coming down the home stretch, with the Wildcats having the current momentum. Will Edwards be ready to make his highly-anticipated announcement at Peach Jam? That remains up in the air, even if it is his goal.