Philly native Justin Edwards joins the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-way deal as a undrafted free agent—a far cry from the expectations laid out for him coming out of Imhotep.
The last year hasn’t played out the way Justin Edwards likely expected it to.
This time last year, the wing was on his way to the University of Kentucky for his freshman season after graduating from Philadelphia’s Imhotep Institute Charter High School.
Edwards had a lot going for him coming out of his final season at Imhotep. As as senior, he led his team to its second consecutive state championship, averaged 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and was named Mr. Pennsylvania Basketball. Edwards was a consensus five-star recruit and was even considered to be a top-three recruit in the nation by outlets such as ESPN. Most early projections for the 2024 NBA Draft were predicting Edwards being selected early in the first round, even as a potential No. 1 overall pick according to The Athletic—all before he stepped on the court as a Wildcat for the first time
Now about a year has passed, and Edwards is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. But he did not get drafted first overall. He didn’t hear his name called at all throughout the whole first round… nor the second round. Edwards joined the Sixers this summer on a two-way deal as an undrafted free agent.
So what happened?
His lone season in Lexington defied all expectations, just not in the way he would have hoped. Edwards averaged just 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 32 games played, hitting 48.6% of field goals, 36.5% from beyond the arc and 77.6% from the free throw line. As his struggles and inconsistency continued, his draft stock continued to fall through the floor.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. He has showed a few small glimpses of that player he was expected to be. At Kentucky, his best performance came against Alabama on Feb. 24. Edwards dropped 28 points in the Wildcats’ win, shooting 10-for-10 from the field including 4-for-4 from long range. He also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Against the Memphis Grizzlies on July 9 in the NBA Summer League, he scored 14 points (sinking all three triples he attempted) as well as three rebounds, an assist, two steals and two blocks.
At just 20 years old, there is time and opportunity for Edwards to grow into the guy he was heavily pressured and expected to become before he even started college. He has a lot still going for him. He’s a 6-foot-8 wing with a 6-foot-10 wingspan with a smooth lefty jumper with a high, quick release that can help him get hot from the outside. He continues to develop his movements off the ball and his length serves him well to be active on the defensive end.
And, for what it’s worth, he’s battled through the mental aspect of falling below the sky-high expectations for him coming out of high school. He’s been through the tough games when nothing is falling for him, when the pressure of getting to the NBA as expected was likely all he could think about, when the voices of fans and people online were nothing but negative. Edwards has been through all that, and is now out the other side.
He has a long way to go, with aspects of his game like ballhandling and playmaking needing a lot of work, but some time in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats might be just what the doctor ordered to keep Edwards going in the right direction.
Maybe Edwards will never be the guy everyone expected him to be out of Imhotep, but he has the tools and potential to become a decent option for the Sixers as a big wing with a good shot from outside. On a two-way deal, taking a chance on this Philly native is a low-risk, potentially high-reward situation that’s worth keeping an eye on as this season gets underway.