Men's Basketball

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

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2024

Tristan Pharis

After a dominant win over Alabama, the Kentucky Wildcats will take on Mississippi State on the road.

^{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.

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.

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.

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.”

His message to those going through tough times:

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

Justin Edwards talks about his mental health battles during his time at Kentucky and says Reed Sheppard connected him with his mental health coach.

His message to those going through tough times:

"It's not going to rain forever. Stay the course and believe in God." pic.twitter.com/zxlaVozldJ— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) February 25, 2024

BB Recruiting

Top 25 Transfer Otega Oweh Commits to Kentucky

Published

11 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Oklahoma Sooners transfer Otega Oweh has comitted to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Following Lamont Butler’s commitment to Kentucky on Friday, the Wildcats have received another commitment less than 24 hours later. This time Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh, he announced on his social media.

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This comes after Oweh visited Lexington earlier this week, with reports coming out that his recruitment could be wrapped up quickly after.

Oweh is a top 25 transfer according to 247Sports, 38th by EvanMiya, and 55th by ESPN. Listed at 6-5, 210 pounds, Oweh is a strong and physical guard. His strength and athleticism have been a strength dating back to high school, which allows him to impact the game defensively, and also to get to the rim and thrive in transition opportunities.

In two years at Oklahoma, the area that Oweh has significantly improved in has been his shooting. As a freshman, he shot just 25 percent from three, on just four attempts for the season, to 37.7 percent as a sophomore, making 20 of his 53 attempts. Most of that success comes from catch-and-shoot opportunities, where he rates in the 87th percentile. His ability to shoot off the dribble is the polar opposite, rating in just the 4th percentile.

Oweh is a two-way player with two years of eligibility remaining, while he will bring experience, there is still room for development with NBA upside. While he may not be a primary option, he’s certainly a player that can impact the game.

Oweh is now Kentucky’s third addition from the transfer portal and sixth player overall. A handful of top transfers are visiting, or currently visiting, Kentucky this weekend. The staff is hopeful a few join the roster.

BB Recruiting

REPORT: San Diego State Transfer Lamont Butler Commits to Kentucky

Published

1 day ago

April 26, 2024

Tristan Pharis

San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler has committed to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Amidst anxiety from many of the Big Blue Nation, the Kentucky basketball program has added another player to the roster. On Friday Lamont Butler, a consensus top-60 transfer from San Diego State, committed to Kentucky, reported by On3.

Kentucky has been in contact with Butler since he entered the portal earlier this week. On Friday morning, four members of the Kentucky staff took a visit to Las Vegas, which we know now was to see Butler. It was enough to secure his commitment.

Coming out of a high school as a three-star prospect, Butler has been a true case of development. In four seasons with San Diego State, he improved his numbers year after year. As a three-year starter for the Aztecs, Butler averaged 7.7 points (41.2% FG), 2.6 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He also received Mountain West All-Defense honors three straight seasons, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award this past year.

Butler was a star for the San Diego State team that made it to the National Championship game in 2023, even hitting the buzzer-beater to send them to the title game. He will provide Kentucky with proven experience and the knowledge of what it takes to win.

As his defensive accolades show, Butler makes his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. However, he plays well within a system and is a really good passer for a guard who plays primarily off the ball, with a 21 percent assist rate. He also grades fairly well analytically on spot-up shots and in pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler.

With Butler on the roster, there are still many spots to fill, especially some spots for “dudes”. Fortunately, many big names are expected to be in Lexington this weekend for the visit.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky to Host Multiple Top Transfers This Weekend

Published

2 days ago

April 25, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are hosting multiple top transfers this weekend for visits, looking to add to their roster.

With the deadline for players to enter the portal coming up on May 1st, Kentucky nearly has all their options on the table. Now two weeks since taking the job, Mark Pope has expressed interest in nearly two dozen names and has been keying in on some top names in the portal.

As of writing this article, top 25 transfer Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), is currently on a visit to Lexington, with three more players set to visit this weekend. There’s a good chance that some of those visits turn into commitments.

Let’s take a look at those names.

Deivon Smith – Guard, Utah

Physicals: 6’0, 173 lbs
Stats: 13.3 PPG, 7.1 APG, 6.3 RPG, 46.% FG, 40.8% 3P
Ranking: 10th (Evan Miya), 38rd (247Sports)

Kentucky has had just three players record a triple-double in program history. Deivon Smith recorded five triple-doubles this past season alone, the second-most all-time for a single season in NCAA history.

While undersized, he is one of the best all-around guards in the country, as his numbers show. It’s still early, but Kentucky getting the first visit is significant. St. John’s and Texas Tech have also been mentioned here.

Andrej Stojaković – Guard, Stanford

Physicals: 6’7, 190 lbs
Stats: 7.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 40.9% FG, 32.7% 3P
Ranking: 183rd (Evan Miya), 51st (247Sports)

Stojakovic is the son of former NBA All-Star, Peja Stojakovic. A familiar name for Kentucky fans from his high school recruitment. Stojakovic is a terrific shooter, and a top-25 recruit in the 2023 class.

On Thursday, Stojakovic cut his list to just three schools: California, UNC, and Kentucky. As a West Coast product, California was a school that showed interest when he was in high school, and so did Mark Pope when he was at BYU. Pope has made Stojakovic a priority, he could seal the deal this weekend.

Aidan Mahaney – Guard, Saint Mary’s

Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Stats: 13.9 PPG, 2.6 APG, 38.6% FG, 35.5% 3P
Ranking: 96th (Evan Miya), 14th (247Sports)

One of the best guards in the portal. As a lead guard for Saint Mary’s, he displayed a good sense of playing under control, setting himself up and others. That said, his numbers were rather inefficient as the primary scoring option for the Gaels and shooting more than half of his shots from three. There are concerns about his playing against bigger guards.

Mahaney visited UConn Thursday and it looks to be a race between Creighton, Virginia, UConn, and Kentucky.

Andrew Carr – Forward, Wake Forest

Physicals: 6-11, 230 lbs
Stats: 13.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 52.6% FG, 37.1% 3P
Ranking: 33rd (Evan Miya), Not Listed (247Sports)

A near 7-footer who is efficient and can stretch the floor, shooting over 37 percent from three, is a player that Mark Pope would love to add to his roster. That describes Andrew Carr who has played two years at each Delaware and Wake Forest and is looking to go elsewhere for his last season of eligibility.

Carr is coming off a visit to Texas Tech and will visit Villanova after he visits Lexington this weekend.