Justin Edwards, a senior at Imhotep Charter School, is a dynamic forward who signed with the Kentucky Wildcats in the November signing window. When Edwards signed with the Wildcats, he was the #4 recruit in the nation. However, ESPN released its updated Top 100 rankings list on Friday and Edwards has unseated future Kentucky teammate DJ Wagner as ESPN’s new No. 1 high school senior. Edwards picked Kentucky over Tennessee, Auburn, Connecticut and many others.
Edwards is a walking mismatch, standing at 6’8” and weighing 185 pounds. His height allows him to shoot over smaller defenders. However, while his build makes him fast, it also allows for a bigger defender to try to bully him physically. Edwards can score at multiple levels, showing the ability to attack the rim and shoot from the perimeter equally. He is very active on the defensive end of the floor. Edwards has shown his ability to rebound from the small forward position. Edwards may be the most versatile scorer of the group. He may also be one of the best positional rebounders.
With Edwards ascent to the top spot, the Wildcats now have the #1, 2, 4, 11 and 21 players in the 2023 class. This is the best class that John Calipari has ever put together and mirrors the class that won the 2012 NCAA National Championship. It will be exciting to see how this super-class performs together, mixing with the players that do not depart after this year. If the veterans for 2023-24 mix with the freshmen like they did in the 2011-12 season, we could see Coach Cal hang banner #9 in Rupp Arena’s rafters.