Where did Anthony Edwards go to college? Revisiting Timberwolves star's path to becoming No. 1 pick
Where did Anthony Edwards go to college? Revisiting Timberwolves star’s path to becoming No. 1 pick
Anthony Edwards is making his case as one of the best players in the world in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
The Timberwolves star has been as good as anyone this postseason. He went toe-to-toe with his childhood idol Kevin Durant and came away with a clean sweep against the Suns. He carried that unmatched confidence into Denver and stole Games 1 and 2 from the Nuggets on the road.
Edwards is averaging 32.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals as Minnesota holds a perfect 6-0 record.
At the young age of 22, Edwards is proving to be even better than he was projected after the Timberwolves took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
MORE: Anthony Edwards is becoming Michael Jordan 2.0
Where did Anthony Edwards go to college?
Edwards’ ascension to stardom was faster than expected, but he wasn’t some no-name prospect who came out of nowhere. He was the No. 1 ranked player in the 2019 high school class, a five-star prospect with countless high-major Division-I offers.
As an Atlanta native, Edwards elected to stay home and attend the University of Georgia, playing for head coach Tom Crean.
Edwards picked Georgia over notable offers like Auburn, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina and UCLA.
Anthony Edwards college stats
Edwards only played one season at Georgia before taking off for the NBA.
The Bulldogs went a disappointing 16-16 overall, going 5-13 in SEC play to finish second-to-last in the conference. They did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Edwards had plenty of personal success, though. He earned SEC Rookie of the Year and was All-SEC Second Team despite Georgia’s struggles.
You can find Edwards’ freshman stats below.
| Year | Class | GP | MP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | TOV | PPG |
| 2019-20 | FR | 32 | 33.0 | 40.2 | 29.4 | 77.2 | 5.2 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 19.1 |
MORE: Nuggets have no answers for Timberwolves’ size, defense and Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards college scouting report
The Timberwolves selected Edwards with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Memphis center James Wiseman and star playmaker LaMelo Ball were other candidates for the top pick. Minnesota already had a franchise cornerstone big man in Karl-Anthony Towns and there were questions about how Ball’s skill would translate to the NBA.
That paved the way for Edwards as the top selection, and that pick has certainly panned out.
Here is what I wrote in Edwards’ NBA Draft scouting report back in 2020:
Edwards’ size is his biggest draw as the potential No. 1 overall pick. At 6-5, 225 pounds with a 6-9 wingspan, Edwards already has the body of a prototypical NBA player. In fact, he’s built more like an NFL linebacker.
His broad shoulders complement his strength, quickness and elite athleticism, matching his playstyle perfectly. Edwards has great body control and knows how to use his frame to his benefit when it comes to attacking the basket.
…His jumper wasn’t very consistent in his one year at Georgia but shot selection and being the only true scorer on his team – which drew a ton of attention from opposing defenses – played a big role in that, too. There are no issues when it comes to his jump shot mechanics and his ability to knock down tough shots helps his case in the NBA.
I compared Edwards to Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell and broke down one play to draw a line between the two shooting guards at the time.