Justin Edwards goes undrafted and lands with 76ers

Justin Edwards goes undrafted and lands with 76ers

Well, that was fast.

After going undrafted, Justin Edwards has agreed to a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Shams Charania broke the news first.

It’s going to be a tougher road for Edwards compared to being a draft pick, but the good news is the Philly native is going back home to continue his hoops career. Here’s to hoping this is the start of a long and productive pro career!

After a disastrous one-year stay in Lexington, former Kentucky Wildcats forward Justin Edwards was not selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. He will now look to begin his NBA career as an undrafted free agent.

Edwards arrived at Kentucky as a 5-star class of 2024 signee with a world of potential. At one point, he was the top-ranked recruit in the class and was widely projected as a 2024 lottery pick, with some projections having him be the No. 1 overall pick.

However, Edwards struggled in his one year at Kentucky, averaging 8.8 points on 48.6% shooting from the field (36.5% on 3s), 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. It also doesn’t help that Edwards is 20 years old and turns 21 in December, so he’s an older prospect for a freshman.

That, along with his enigmatic play, was too much for an NBA team to spend a draft pick on him, but he’s still getting a chance to show what he’s made of at the pro level. It’s just going to be harder to earn a big NBA payday, though he thankfully brought in some good NIL money while at Kentucky.

Despite the struggles, Edwards was widely expected to be drafted, with most projections having him go in the 30-45 range, so it was a surprise to see him go undrafted.

Kentucky finishes the 2024 NBA Draft with three players selected: Reed Sheppard to the Houston Rockets at No. 3, Rob Dillingham to the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 8, and Antonio Reeves to the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 47.

Here’s to hoping Edwards gets his shot in the NBA soon enough!