Four future Wildcats named to 2023 Iverson Classic roster
Kentucky fans didn’t need another reason to believe they have the best batch of incoming freshmen headed to Lexington next season, but it doesn’t hurt to hear it again.
On Monday, the roster for the 2023 Iverson Roundball Classic event in Memphis, TN was announced. Four of Kentucky’s five signees from the class of 2023 made the cut: five-star SF Justin Edwards, five-star C Aaron Bradshaw, five-star CG DJ Wagner, and five-star CG Robert Dillingham. Four-star CG Reed Sheppard was the lone future ‘Cat left off the roster.
According to the On3 Consensus, all four of Kentucky’s representatives in the Iverson Classic are among the top 10 ranked players in the country. Edwards checks in at No. 2 overall, Wagner at No. 3, Bradshaw at No. 4, and Dillingham at No. 10. Duke is the only other school with four signees named to the roster.
The 2023 Iverson Classic is one of several All-Star games that take place after the high school season wraps up, similar to the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic games. There is no scheduled date as of right now for the 2023 Iverson Classic, but the expectation is that it will happen sometime in April.
24 of the best high school seniors in the nation were tabbed to the event, but an unnamed 25th spot was left open with a “?” and will be announced at a later time. We’ll hold out hope that Sheppard is the last-minute addition, however, don’t be shocked to see Bronny James or someone else sneak in instead.
Kentucky players are no strangers to the Iverson Classic throughout the event’s history. Since its inception in 2017, a total of eventual 18 Wildcats cracked the roster — including the four for this year — with at least two participating in all of them. This is the first time, however, that Kentucky has seen four recruits named to the roster in the same year.
2017: PJ Washington, Jarred Vanderbilt
2018: Immanuel Quickley, Tyler Herro
2019: Kahlil Whitney, Keion Brooks
2020: Brandon Boston Jr., Lance Ware, Terrence Clarke
2021: TyTy Washington, Daimion Collins, Bryce Hopkins
2022: Chris Livingston, Cason Wallace
2023: Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw, DJ Wagner, Robert Dillingham
There is going to be plenty of Kentucky flavor during the upcoming high school All-Star season. Four future ‘Cats were also named to the 2023 McDonald’s All-American event, although Sheppard made it over Dillingham, who was not eligible to be selected as part of his relationship with Overtime Elite. Edwards and Wagner were added to the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit roster, as well. The 2023 Jordan Brand Classic roster has not been announced, but UK will surely figure to have at least a couple of representatives for that one, too.
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