NBA Draft Scouting Report: Kentucky's Justin Edwards

Scouting Report: Justin Edwards

Contents

1. Prospect Profile
2. Highlights
3. Draft Projection 
4. 2024 Big Board 

Justin Edwards 

Wing | Kentucky 

Height: 6'7” | Weight: 180 lbs 

2024 Draft Age: 20.51 

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Prospect Profile

A smooth lefty, Edwards has the skillet and size to be the perfect NBA wing. As such, there's no question he has what it takes to emerge as a top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, especially with his ability to operate on the perimeter. Every year there’s at least one player of his archetype that’s taken early in the draft, especially with how important scoring wings and positional size has become in the modern NBA.

While he's proven to be effective off-ball, Edwards can also make things happen with the ball in his hands. This is one of the primary reasons he is versatile and should fit in nearly any lineup moving forward. It’s rare for a player of his size to possess the ability to create for himself the way Edwards can. He is great at changing directions quickly and moves fluidly with the ball.

Edwards projects to be a good knock down shooter, but can also score in isolation as well and create mismatches. He loves to pull-up in the midrange and shoot over his defender with a knack for stopping on a dime. The base of his jumper could be more square, so it will be interesting to see if that’s a change he makes at Kentucky or if he continues to have success with the offset feet — left closer to the rim than right.

Defensively, Edwards certainly has the size to guard a variety of positions. If he can showcase defensive upside and versatility, the sky is truly the limit for his draft stock. With no clear top pick in this class entering the season, there’s no reason he couldn’t make the case for himself with a stellar season on both ends.

Positional size is key, which will help quite a bit of what Edwards does translate at the NBA level. He can play at either forward position or in an off-ball guard role when needed. The five-star prospect clearly has the tools to make it to the NBA, but it will take a quality season at Kentucky showing that he can produce on both ends if he wants to be a one-and-done.

Highlights

Draft Projection 

Early Lottery Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.

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2024 Big Board 

Want to know more about other potential 2024 NBA Draft prospects and where they might get selected? Check out our Draft Digest Big Board.

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