(Photo: 247Sports)
Justin Edwardsthe No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2023, has committed John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats, he tells 247Sports.
The 6-foot-7, 180-pound small forward from Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia (Pa.) chose Kentucky over SEC rival Tennessee Volunteers.
“It really came down to me following my dreams and I always saw myself playing at Kentucky, that was a childhood dream,” he said of why he chose Kentucky.
“Just seeing all the people who went to the NBA from there,” he added about why they were a childhood dream. “My overall goal was to go to the NBA and I’ve seen the success he’s had with the wings.”
Tennessee had a significant, long-standing lead on Edwards for the majority of recruiting, but things changed when Calipari took over recruiting and led the charge himself.
“He’s been telling me he really wanted to coach me and he’s going to help me get where I want to go,” he said of what stood out about the Hall of Fame head coach. “He’s a good guy and I feel like he’s honest, that’s really important. He’s 100 percent honest with me.”
Edwards is one of the most versatile and skilled wings in the entire class with a high floor as a prospect because of his ability to dribble, pass and shoot, but in his own mind, it’s the bottom line he’ll bring to Kentucky.
“A winning mentality,” he said. “I love to win, so I’m going to try to keep winning there and bring them a National Championship.”
Edwards is Kentucky’s third commitment in the 2023 class joining five-star commit Rob Dillingham and four-star local star. Reed Sheppard.
With the addition of Edwards, Kentucky now ranks as the second overall class in the 2023 team rankings.