Justin Edwards Might be a Classic Kentucky Riser in 2024 NBA Draft

With the uncertainty around the 2024 NBA Draft, perhaps history will help shape the draft board as we inch closer to June. If you polled 50 evaluators you would get 50 extremely different answers on their big board from top to bottom. While many tab this as a weak class, the 2024 NBA Draft class could make up for their lack of pure star power by the output of high-end contributors.

Justin Edwards saw some of his once star-upside fizzle after a disappointing year at Kentucky, but the Wildcats forward with on-ball talent at 6-foot-7 should be worth taking a chance on in the NBA Draft.

At just 20 years old, Edwards can initiate offense with the ball in his hands, sparking transition, cutting past the defense, utilizing screens to become a scorer and scoring at the rim at a high clip turning in 62 percent at the cup.

His catch-and-shoot output (38 percent) suggests he can at worst be an instant play-finisher who knocks down catch-and-shoot chances while constantly getting on the move to free himself up to score at the rim right away in the NBA.

Edwards showed enough flashes in a crowded Wildcat rotation of ball handlers to prove he has upside as a creator, and like former Kentucky initiators in the past, could pop in the NBA after being dimed in college.

His ability to soar up for rebounds and switch on the defense end can change games, and most importantly, keep him on the floor as he is given chances to develop.

Any team that has a sound developmental track in the G League should highly consider Edwards in the 2024 Draft and with in-person workouts as well as the combine still to come, perhaps this Wildcat could find his way into the top 30.

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