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Belief Never Wavered That Justin Edwards’ Breakthrough Would Come, “I stayed in the gym, and I believe in God”

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After a dominant win over Alabama, the Kentucky Wildcats will take on Mississippi State on the road.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Co-authored by: Wyatt Huff

What a journey it has been for Justin Edwards.

The top recruit in Kentucky’s heralded 2023 No. 1 recruiting class, many, including myself, believed that Edwards held the highest star potential of the group. At 6-8, 203 pounds, Edwards was one of the most versatile players in high school basketball, which led many outlets to project him as a Top 5 pick in the 2024 Draft, and in some cases even the No. 1 draft pick.

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In his first action for Kentucky, during the Wildcats’ summer trip to Canada for GLOBL JAM, Edwards looked the part, averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over four games. However, when the regular season started, Edwards met “true adversity” for the first time in his basketball career.

While his talent and athleticism helped him put up good numbers against lower competition, he struggled in big games against Kansas and North Carolina. In the process, his struggles on the court became more visible, as did his lack of confidence.

From early December to the end of January, Edwards did not score in double-figures one time over an eight-game stretch. That culminated in a game against Arkansas where he went scoreless and recorded just nine minutes of action, both season lows, and was followed by a DNP against Florida due to a hip injury.

When things looked their bleakest, feeling “the weight of the world” as John Calipari has referred to it in the past, something changed for Edwards.

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Part of that is that the Kentucky staff and his teammates never gave up on him, calling their shots on his breakout.

  • Dec. 11th, John Calipari: “I really think there’s going to be a game where Justin goes for 30.”
  • Dec. 13th, Chuck Martin: “Everyone’s journey is different. He’s an extremely hard-working kid, in the gym every day. He’s super versatile. It’s just a matter of time before he breaks out.”
  • Jan. 9th, John Calipari: “In a month from now, you will all say, ‘Wow, this is what they were talking about.’”

During that time, Reed Sheppard took the initiative to help his teammate by introducing Edwards to his mental health coach.”Everyone struggles mentally,” Sheppard told KY Insider. “It’s a hard thing not to struggle with. I just wanted to help him and get him to think positively, instead of negatively.”

Instilling confidence and aiding Edwards in getting into a better mental space was just part of the solution, he still had to put the work in. “We don’t have anyone working harder right now,” Calipari said in mid-January amidst Edwards’ struggles.

While it would have been easy to revert and put in less work, when the on-court performance wasn’t improving, he didn’t, trusting the process. His improvement has been gradual, with demonstrated performances allowing his confidence to grow. It started with a 7-point, 4-rebound performance against Tennessee, then setting a career-high at Vanderbilt. Then came Saturday.

Against a top 15 team, on CBS, in Rupp Arena, Edwards had his best game as a Kentucky Wildcat and in historic fashion. Putting up a career-high and team-high of 28 points, Edwards didn’t miss a single shot, shooting a perfect 10-10 from the field and 4-4 from three-point range. Edwards became just the third player in Kentucky basketball history to go perfect from the field with at least ten field goal attempts, joining Kenny “Sky” Walker and Rodney Dent, and the first to do so with at least one three-point attempt.

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After his big performance on Saturday, Calipari doubled down in his belief in Edwards. “I kept saying you’re going to break through, I believe in you,” Calipari said. “He said coach, I believe in you. And I said you just got to stay the course. What I said to the team today – he has lived in the gym. He made every shot.”

The joy of Edwards’ breakthrough carried over to his teammates. “I’ve been lucky enough to have this guy,” Reed Sheppard said. “He’s been able to help me be positive, no matter what… I’m really glad he’s finally turning the page and I’m super proud of him.”

Edwards, himself, also got the chance to speak with the media after the game, where he opened up about what that performance meant to him and the mental struggles he has had to overcome.

“It felt good. I had been struggling mentally the whole season so to go out there and to play how I did felt good,” Edwards said. He said Coach Calipari has been a constant source of encouragement throughout the season. “Me and Coach Cal always talk about it, and he tells me he believes in me, and I tell him I believe in him. I stay in the gym, and I just believe in God.”

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His message to those going through tough times:

“It’s not going to rain forever. Stay the course and believe in God.”

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Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Selected No. 46 by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

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Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

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As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

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Men's Basketball

Koby Brea Selected No. 41 by the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft

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Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

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Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

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Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

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The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

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