Brown: Where's Justin Edwards? Top-ranked Kentucky basketball freshman missing in action
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Kentucky freshman forward Justin Edwards didn’t start Saturday against Arkansas for the first time this season after coach John Calipari said he was "hobbled" after a practice scrimmage.
Even before his injury, Edwards has been trending in the wrong direction for the Wildcats. They managed to eke out a 63-57 win over the Razorbacks, with Edwards having no impact on the outcome and guard Rob Dillingham out with a stomach virus. But for UK to reach the lofty goals and potential it has, Edwards has to make himself a factor.
And Calipari said it is up to Edwards to make that change.
"He's got to get himself jump-started," Calipari said. "The way you build your confidence is through demonstrated performance on that court."
Edwards was scoreless for the first time this season, but before Saturday, he didn't have a basket in a two-point performance at South Carolina and he had only one basket in a two-point outing against Mississippi State.
This is more than a freshman wall. He's a player struggling to understand what he's best at doing.
He still seems determined to get up 3-point shots although he's shooting just 28.9% from behind the arc. He'd be much better suited driving to the basket and taking midrange shots. At the least, making the easy plays is what Calipari said could reignite Edwards.
"Don't try to do crazy stuff, don't do stuff that's going to lead to turnovers or miss layups or bad shots, don't," Calipari said. "Defend, rebound, dive on the floor, hit a breakout, make an open 3. Bang. And all of a sudden, (it's) 'I got this.'"
Edwards, who is averaging 7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds, hasn’t scored in double figures since netting 13 points in the Wildcats' win at Louisville over a month ago.
His free-throw rate of 18.6 ranks the lowest among the 11 players who’ve logged enough minutes for KenPom.com to be considered. That’s another indication of the extent to which he’s stopped attacking the basket. His first shot against Arkansas didn’t even come until 12:15 remained in the game.
In the first half, guard Reed Sheppard made a quick run-out pass off a rebound to Edwards as he was streaking down the floor. It should have led to an easy layup or dunk as Edwards had a step on the nearest defender. Instead, it ended with a turnover as Edwards traveled almost as soon as he got the ball.
That’s a far cry from where most observers who saw the 6-foot-7 Philadelphia native play in high school figured he’d be.
It was Edwards who was ranked the highest among UK’s recruits in the Class of 2023. He was third in the 247Sports Composite rankings and considered a surefire first-round pick in the NBA draft — some had him in the top five.
That was all in the preseason.
His stock has steadily declined in the eyes of many NBA scouts. If the season ended today, he’d either have to return to school or be determined to make it in the league as a second-round pick.
He’s not a strong rebounder. He’s not a great defender. And it’s not that he’s missing a lot of shots, he’s no longer even taking them.
Calipari said Edwards was in the gym late this week getting shots up and is doing the right things to find his rhythm. He got hurt during Friday's practice but was able to get treatment in order to play at Arkansas. Adou Thiero made his return Saturday and started in Edwards' place after missing seven games with soreness.
The Cats have enough players to win games without Edwards playing a major role. But to reach their full potential, they're going to need for Edwards to reach his.
"He's not there yet, but that's all right," Calipari said. "I told him I believe in him. I know how good he is."
It's time the rest of college basketball sees it, too.
Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@gannett.com, follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at profile.courier-journal.com/newsletters/cl-browns-latest to make sure you never miss one of his columns.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: Justin Edwards has been missing for John Calipari
