Justin Edwards (basketball, born 2003)

Edwards grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Imhotep Institute Charter High School.{{cite web |last=Bedore |first=Gary |date=April 29, 2022 |title=Philly forward Justin Edwards considering KU, five others |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article260885477.html |access-date=January 26, 2023 |work=Kansas City Star}} He helped Imhotep win the Philadelphia City championship as a sophomore.{{cite web |last=Piatt |first=Joey |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Imhotep’s Justin Edwards was impressed by Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation. Will the rising wing commit to his dream school? |url=https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/justin-edwards-kentucky-imhotep-big-blue-nation-20211201.html |access-date=January 30, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} As a junior, Edwards averaged 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and led the Panthers to the PIAA Class 5A state championship.{{cite web |last=Tucker |first=Kyle |date=July 25, 2022 |title=Why Justin Edwards became Kentucky’s latest five-star recruit in the Class of 2023 |url=https://theathletic.com/3448279/2022/07/25/justin-edwards-kentucky-recruiting/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |work=The Athletic}} He played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League following the season.{{cite web |last=Drummond |first=Cameron |date=May 30, 2022 |title=Kentucky basketball recruit Justin Edwards at Louisville EYBL |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-recruiting/article261949860.html |access-date=January 30, 2023 |work=Lexington Herald Leader}} Edwards was selected to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game.{{cite web |last=DiAmore |first=Isabella |date=January 24, 2023 |title=Paul VI’s Hannah Hidalgo is a McDonald’s All American; Justin Edwards, D.J. Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw also make cut |url=https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/new-jersey/mcdonalds-all-american-games-high-school-basketball-hannah-hidalgo-dj-wagner-justin-edwards-aaron-bradshaw-20230124.html |access-date=January 26, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} He was also selected to play for Team USA in the Nike Hoops Summit.{{cite web |last=DiAmore |first=Isabella |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Nike Hoop Summit to feature Imhotep’s Justin Edwards, Camden’s DJ Wagner, and Paul VI’s Hannah Hidalgo |url=https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/usa-basketball-roster-dj-wagner-justin-edwards-hannah-hidalgo-20230214.html |access-date=February 15, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} As a senior, Edwards averaged 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds as the Panthers repeated as state champions. He was named Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball.{{cite web |last=DiAmore |first=Isabella |date=May 27, 2023 |title=Imhotep’s Justin Edwards named 2023 Mr. Basketball |url=https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/justin-edwards-imhotep-kentucky-mr-basketball-pennsylvania-20230527.html |access-date=June 5, 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}

Edwards was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 class, according to major recruiting services.{{cite web |last=Selbe |first=Nick |date=July 26, 2022 |title=Justin Edwards, Top-Three Overall 2023 CBB Prospect, Commits to Kentucky |url=https://www.si.com/college/2022/07/26/justin-edwards-2023-prospect-commits-kentucky |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=SI.com}}{{cite web |last=Borzello |first=Jeff |date=July 25, 2022 |title=Kentucky Wildcats add another five-star pledge to 2023 college basketball recruiting class in Justin Edwards |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34295038 |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}} He was rated as the #1 overall recruit in the nation by ESPN in January 2023.{{cite web |last=Carter |first=Aaron |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Imhotep’s Justin Edwards is the new No. 1 in ESPN’s basketball recruiting rankings |url=https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/pennsylvania/justin-edwards-imhotep-no1-basketball-recruiting-rankings-espn-20230120.html |access-date=January 26, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} On July 25, 2022, Edwards committed to playing college basketball for Kentucky after considering offers from Tennessee, Auburn, Kansas, Maryland and Villanova.{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Ben |date=July 25, 2022 |title=Star basketball recruit Justin Edwards commits to Kentucky |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-recruiting/article263795883.html |access-date=January 30, 2023 |work=Lexington Herald Leader}} He also considered playing professionally in the NBA G League.{{cite web |last=Elvin |first=Gustav |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Imhotep star Justin Edwards narrows his list down to seven, including Villanova, the G League |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/justin-edwards-imhotep-basketball-recruiting-villanova-g-league-20220428.html |access-date=January 30, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2023}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Justin Edwards

| position = SF

| hometown = Philadelphia, PA

| highschool = Imhotep Institute Charter (PA)

| feet = 6

| inches = 7

| weight = 190

| 40 =

| commitdate = July 25, 2022

| scout stars =

| rivals stars = 5

| 247 stars = 5

| espn stars = 5

| espn grade = 94

}}

{{College Athlete Recruit End

| 40 =

| year = 2023

| rivals ref title = Kentucky 2023 Basketball Commitments

| scout ref title =

| espn ref title = 2023 Kentucky Wildcats Recruiting Class

| rivals school = kentucky

| scout s =

| espn schoolid = 96

| 247 overall = 3

| rivals overall = 3

| espn overall = 3

| accessdate = October 18, 2023

| bball = yes

}}

Edwards enrolled at the University of Kentucky in June 2023.{{cite web|first=Tyler|last=Thompson|title=LOOK: Justin Edwards arrives on Kentucky's campus|url=https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/justin-edwards-arrives-kentucky-campus-freshman/|website=On3.com|date=June 5, 2023|access-date=June 6, 2023}} During the summer before his freshman year he played for the Wildcats in the GLOBL JAM tournament in Canada and averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals over four games as the team went undefeated and won the tournament.{{cite web|first=Kyle|last=Tucker|title=How Kentucky basketball changed the conversation with its four wins in Canada|url=https://theathletic.com/4696293/2023/07/17/kentucky-calipari-reeves-wagner-mitchell-globl-jam/|work=The Athletic|date=July 17, 2023|access-date=July 20, 2023}} Edwards averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 32 games played during his freshman season.{{cite web |last=Black |first=Ryan |date=March 30, 2024 |title=Kentucky basketball 2024-25 roster updates for John Calipari's program |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2024/03/30/kentucky-basketball-roster-updates-john-calipari-recruiting-transfer-portal/73086670007/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=The Courier-Journal}} After the season, he declared for the 2024 NBA draft.{{cite web |last=Neiburg |first=Jeff |date=April 4, 2024 |title=Imhotep's Justin Edwards declares for NBA draft after one season at Kentucky |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/basketball-justin-edwards-nba-draft-kentucky-imhotep-charter-20240404.html |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}

After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Edwards signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on July 4, 2024.{{cite web |date=July 4, 2024 |title=PHILADELPHIA 76ERS SIGN JUSTIN EDWARDS TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT |url=https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/philadelphia-76ers-sign-justin-edwards-to-two-way-contract |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=NBA.com}} On January 14, 2025, Edwards scored a career-high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting in a 118–102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.{{Cite web|title=Justin Edwards shines in NBA breakout performance|url=https://www.aseaofblue.com/2025/1/15/24344110/justin-edwards-nba-breakout-game-76ers|access-date=January 21, 2025|website=aseaofblue.com|language=en}} On February 9, the 76ers signed him to a standard NBA contract.{{Cite web|title=Philadelphia 76ers Sign Justin Edwards to Standard NBA Contract|url=https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/philadelphia-76ers-sign-justin-edwards-standard-nba-contract|access-date=February 11, 2025|website=nba.com|language=en}} On March 21, Edwards tied a career-high 25 points in a 128–120 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.{{cite web|url= https://clutchpoints.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/76ers-news-philly-rookie-justin-edwards-joins-jared-mccain-alex-sarr-impressive-feat|title= 76ers rookie joins Jared McCain, Alex Sarr, others with impressive feat|website=ClutchPoints|last=DiGiovanni|first=Sam|date=March 21, 2025|access-date=March 21, 2025}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky

| 32 || 30 || 21.4 || .486 || .365 || .776 || 3.4 || .9 || .9 || .2 || 8.8

{{S-end}}

Edwards's mother, Ebony Twiggs, played college basketball at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and overseas in Portugal.{{cite web |last=Breen |first=Matt |date=February 24, 2023 |title=Imhotep Charter’s Justin Edwards is Philly’s top high school player in 30 years. His mom worked two jobs to keep his dream alive. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/sports/imhotep-charter-justin-edwards-mcdonals-all-america-20230224.html |access-date=February 28, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{basketballstats|nba=1642348|bbr=e/edwarju01}}
• [https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/edwards-justin/ Kentucky Wildcats bio]
• [https://www.usab.com/players/justin-edwards USA Basketball bio]

{{Philadelphia 76ers current roster}}

{{Delaware Blue Coats current roster}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Justin}}

Category:2003 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Philadelphia

Category:Delaware Blue Coats players

Category:Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players

Category:Philadelphia 76ers players

Category:Shooting guards

Category:Small forwards

Category:Undrafted NBA players