Michigan hoops offers elite 2023 Justin Edwards, Papa Kante shines
Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard is still building his 2022 roster — or trying to — but he and his coaches are looking to the future, as well. Howard offered another elite 2023 prospect Saturday in Philadelphia Imhotep’s Justin Edwards.
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A 6-7 190-pound wing, Edwards is a five-star and one of the elite players in the junior class.
He tore it up at the recent Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas, On3.com’s Jamie Shaw reported.
“The 6-foot-7 wing out of Philadephia (PA) Imhoptep Charter has a long reputation as a knock-down shooter,” he wrote. “He has shown at Pangos some creativity off the bounce. Tennessee and Kentucky are the two visits Edwards has taken. Tennessee feels like they are in a strong place here, but you can’t ever count out Coach Cal if he wants a player.”
As of June 7, Michigan had some catching up to do. Edwards admitted it was “between Tennessee and Kentucky” as of “right now.” Auburn had been in the mix, but faded.
“I’m their main priority,” Edwards told KSR.com of Tennessee. “They make me feel comfortable, and I’m big on that. I’m big on family. They say they want to build around me, stuff like that.
“I look at how many wings [Kentucky] is recruiting in our class. Kentucky is recruiting probably four other five-stars. That doesn’t really determine me going there or not, but … you know? I’m the main priority for Tennessee wing-wise. I don’t think they’re recruiting another wing.”
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Michigan, meanwhile, has offers out, but isn’t in great position with many other than Connecticut big man Papa Kante. The 6-10 center made Shaw’s All-Pangos first team and was among his top stock risers at the camp.
“If we were to give an award for the best center at Pangos All-American Camp, Papa Kante would have been aggressively in the conversation,’ he wrote. “Through the first two days at Pangos, Kante averaged 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, on 53.8-percent shooting from the field. He does what you want a big man to do, rebounding the ball, defending and switching, and making tough guy plays. His offensive arsenal continues to expand, showing a go-to move on the block and stepping to knock down spot-jumpers from three and create opportunities in the mid-post.”
Michigan will host him June 14, and the Wolverines are playing from an enviable position.
But they need wings, too, and Edwards is a great one. He does “everything” when he steps on the floor, in his own words — “leading, scoring, rebounding, playing defense, all the little stuff” — and is still available.
He tentatively plans to decide this fall, and Michigan has some work to do.
“I don’t really know right now. Maybe around September, I would say,” he said. “But I don’t know.”
