On Thursday evening, Kentucky Basketball continued their annual tradition of roster turnover in the spring that has fans working up every scenario of what next year’s roster could look like and who else might announce a decision in the coming weeks to either stay or exit the program. We’ve already had Adou Thiero announce that he is hitting the portal with the trifecta of being able to test the professional waters as well as return to Kentucky, and now we’ve had our first draft attendee.
Justin Edwards announced to the fanbase that he will enter his name into the 2024 NBA Draft and did not leave open the option to return in his statement, which of course is still actually an option for him until the deadline of May 29th.
“This season, my experience in Lexington, thanks to my coaches, my teammates, and you the fans, has been everything I dreamed it would be. I am so grateful to have been a part of the legendary Kentucky program, getting to represent the blue and white with everything I have. Thank you to the Wildcat community for embracing me from my arrival and making Kentucky feel like home,” he said in his announcement.
“After careful consideration and with a deep appreciation for the opportunities and experiences I've had here in Kentucky, I have decided to take a significant step in my basketball career. With much gratitude, I am excited to announce my decision to declare for the NBA Draft.”
Justin Edwards is currently being projected early to middle of the second round in recent mock drafts, which is likely much lower than his party probably expected it would be as he came into college tabbed as a top-five recruit in his class. After a slow start to his freshman season, one that tanked his draft expectations, it was quickly saved on the other side of the New Year where he started to find his groove through conference play and throughout the end of the regular season.
I think most fans expected his time here to be a one year route to the league, so this isn’t much of shock that he is declaring and not returning for a sophomore season, but I think he will get drafted lower than what he would have liked to. Either way, all of these players have the goal of playing professional basketball and whatever path that is presented for them to do so I think they are anxious to follow it in any form or fashion. Getting paid to play the game you love is a career that’s hard to turn down no matter how much the draft slot pays you compared to the higher picks going earlier.
It was very clear that Justin Edwards dealt with mental health obstacles throughout his time in college (did before he arrived as well) and I was so happy with how he faced all the adversity and grew so much this fall and winter. My memory of Justin is going to sit firm on three moments, with the headlining one being at the game down in Knoxville where he put up 16 points and helped manage the Wildcats to a win on the road at No. 4 Tennessee. It was a night that was decked-out in orange and the crowd was excited to support their seniors playing in their last home game. Thankfully, that Senior Night was spoiled by the blue with some “road kill” in Rocky Top.
The other two games I will remember for him is the coming out party down in Vanderbilt where for once it felt like he was figuring things out after a stretch of struggles, going for 17 points in the win. The other is the Saturday that Kentucky hosted No. 13 Alabama and he went 10-for-10 on 28 points (career-high) on a breakout kind of performance. He was nearly at tears from his joy and the moment felt like all the hard work was finally paying off for him.
Three great games capping off a freshman year of overcoming your challenges for a young athlete that was as nice as anyone has ever been here. I’ve had a lot of access to him throughout media opportunities and there wasn’t one time where I didn’t feel like he wasn’t grateful nor happy to be in Lexington. I mean, he said it in his post above - “(It) has been everything I dreamed it would be. I am so grateful to have been a part of the legendary Kentucky program, getting to represent the blue and white with everything I have. Thank you to the Wildcat community for embracing me from my arrival and making Kentucky feel like home.”
I selfishly hope Justin gets everything he desires at the next level. He’s a great kid with big dreams that are right around the corner.