KSR's 45 questions with Kentucky signee Justin Edwards

Five-star senior Justin Edwards, a consensus top-five prospect in the class of 2023, put pen to paper during the early signing period to officially become a Wildcat. He’s one of five seniors to sign with Kentucky this fall, joining five-star guards DJ Wagner and Rob Dillingham, five-star center Aaron Bradshaw and four-star playmaker Reed Sheppard.

Edwards and Sheppard are set to face off in the Kentucky Play-By-Play Classic in Louisville this weekend, the first-ever head-to-head battle between the future Wildcats. That game will take place at Freedom Hall on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Edwards joined KSR’s Sources Say Podcast last week to preview the matchup and what he hopes to show fans down the road from his future college home in Louisville. He also discussed his decision to sign with Kentucky, what he thinks of the program’s top-rated recruiting class and their goals together in Lexington, among a long list of other topics.

No seriously — 45 questions (mostly from fans) in total over the course of the 20-minute live Q&A with the refreshingly blunt wing out of Philadelphia. Miss the interview? KSR has you covered with all 45 questions and answers.

How excited are you to play at Freedom Hall in the Play-By-Play Classic?

They’ve never seen me play before, so it’s really exciting for fans to come out and see me where I’ll be playing next year. It’s really good. I’m going to be playing against Reed Sheppard, that’s my teammate and it’s going to be a good matchup. To see us both play against each other — we’ve never played against each other before, so that’s crazy.

What are your conversations like with Reed Sheppard going into this game? Any smack talk?

“Nah, I’m going to wait until we get down there. That’s my guy right now, but when we’re on the court, all that goes out the window.”

How is his relationship developing with Kentucky’s four other signees?

It’s getting closer. I got closer to Rob and Reed throughout the camps and stuff. Us seeing each other more often, it’s helped gotten us closer.

What does it feel like to assemble the “Dream Team” in 2023?

It’s crazy because Rob and Reed were the main ones recruiting me to come there. Then I was trying to get DJ and Aaron because they’re across the bridge (in Camden), you know? That was a good time.

How well do you know DJ Wagner?

Nobody knows that me and DJ were actually on teams together growing up, on Team Final. He played on Final our eighth grade year, then he left and went to the Scholars. So the two of us already have a little chemistry. That was my first time playing in the EYBL circuit, so it was a good experience for me.

What was the final push of getting DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw committed?

It was really important, I was throwing little shots at DJ and them because I played games with them a lot. I was like, ‘We’re waiting for you, hurry up and come join us.’ Just throwing little — we joked about it a lot.

What led to you picking Kentucky over Tennessee?

It was good, but kind of hard too, because the schools recruiting me were all telling me what I wanted to hear. I just went with my gut, where I felt I could be successful in the long run. Coach Calipari will help me be successful.

Why was Kentucky such a dream school for you from the start?

When I started playing basketball, I used to watch a lot of highlights because I wasn’t as good. But for whatever reason, I’d just watch a lot of Kentucky highlights. Guys like Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, all of them. That just became my dream school ever since.

What are your conversations like talking about Kentucky with the other signees?

We all say we want to win a national championship. Every time we text, it’s about how we can be successful when we come in next year.

Was there a moment it clicked with you that Kentucky was the spot?

It was Peach Jam. Before we got to Peach Jam, I just wasn’t myself because I was so worried about what school I was going to and what decision I was going to make. That last week of Peach Jam, I made my decision, where I wanted to go. After that, I was just playing and I was doing really well. Me making my decision helped me play better, so that was good.

What was it about Peach Jam that allowed you to find so much success on the floor?

My coach, Coach Tahar (Sutton). He pushed me to the point where I am now. He’s the reason I am who I am today because he always pushes me so hard. Last season I wanted to win for him, that’s why I was going so hard. Everything I did last AAU season was for him.

How would you describe your playing style?

I can do a little bit of everything, defend, rebound, just everything. Really I can do everything.

Why is defense something you take pride in?

Me coming from Imhotep (Charter), we’re very passionate on defense. It just carried on to AAU.

How has Imhotep helped you become the player you are?

They don’t take slack. You just have to be 100 percent every single day in practice, in the games, in school, all of that. They push you to become a better person on and off the court.

What do you think of Malik Monk comparisons?

Everybody says I look like him and play like him. I don’t think I look like Malik Monk at all [laughs]. I could see why people say I play like him. He was more athletic, but I think I can shoot better, you know?

Who do you model your game after?

I try to model my game after Kevin Durant, kind of that lanky — kind of like I am, just someone who gets to his spots. So yeah, Kevin Durant.

With NIL, what will be your first practical purchase as a college student?

I don’t know! Really I dunno, probably like a car or something. I really don’t know.

How important was NIL in your decision?

I didn’t talk a lot about NIL, I have someone that does all that stuff for me. So that really wasn’t something I cared a lot about when I was talking with the coaches.

How important is it in general for student-athletes to be able to utilize NIL?

It’s good because some athletes are less fortunate, I would say. They would be able to use the money to help their parents or whoever, just little stuff like that to help. That’s the biggest thing for me, being able to help.

Do you care about being the No. 1 player in the class?

It’s important to me, but it’s not something I’m really concerned about. I’m not too big-headed over rankings and stuff like that, you know?

Did you have a favorite Kentucky player growing up?

Not really, I just watched all of them. But I was watching the De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk duo, they were really exciting to watch.

Could you see this team being like that one with the elite guards and wings with an elite big man?

I’ve never thought of it that way. I think we’re going to wind up being better though, that’s my personal opinion.

How good do you all believe you can be together?

Just like my boy Rob said, I feel like we can win the national championship. Coach Calipari did it with a young group before, so I feel like he can do it with us too.

Have you felt the magnitude of the Kentucky vs. Louisville rivalry yet and how important it is?

Nah, not yet. I’m gonna go watch some highlights though, some film on those games.

Is there a team you’re most looking forward to playing when you get to Kentucky?

No, I’m just going to play, you know? Every team is a team I want to play.

Who is the best player you’ve ever played against?

Chris Paul or Steph Curry, one of them. I went to their camps.

How did you play against them both?

The Steph Curry matchup, I see why it’s so hard to guard him, he moves constantly. Just does not stop moving, he moves around a lot. Chris Paul, he’s shifty. He was like toying with us, playing around, and I don’t like that stuff. But it was good to be able to guard him. I don’t think (I got any stops against either of them).

Are you excited for travel opportunities that come with going to Kentucky?

Yeah, I don’t travel outside of the U.S., so that’s exciting for me, being able to do stuff like that for the first time. Stuff like that.

What is one part of your game you want to improve on before you get to Kentucky?

Getting stronger and playing better with my right hand.

If you could choose one current Wildcat to stick around and play with you next year, who would it be?

Osc– ooh, from right now? Yeah, probably Oscar. It’s crazy because he just makes basketball look easy. At his height, 6-9 or whatever, he makes it seem like he’s 7-foot. He just grabs every rebound. We talked at Big Blue Madness.

How was Big Blue Madness?

Aaron committed out of the blue. We were eating, and I went on Instagram because I’m getting all these followers. I was like, ‘Yo, you just committed?!’ He was like, ‘Yeah man!’ That was tough because it was just so out of the blue. I had no idea, nobody did.

It was good, because that was like the last piece. I knew that once we got Aaron, DJ was going to come too. So that made me realize we were going to actually get the class we had been wanting.

What is your favorite pregame snack?

Sour Patch Kids. I actually got some Sour Patches in my pocket! I don’t know why, I just like Sour Patches.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Lexington?

We haven’t gotten to really eat out there because they have chefs and all that stuff. So I don’t really know yet.

Max’s or Ishkabibbles in Philadelphia?

I don’t know what that is, they’re probably cheesesteak spots.

(Justin’s coach: “It’s an Eagles bar, some of the best cheesesteak spots in the city!”)

Ah, I’ve never been there before. It’s a bar, my coach said.

Which future teammate are you most looking forward to playing with?

All of them, yeah.

King of the Court, three dribbles from the top of the key. What’s in your bag in that scenario?

Winning, that’s in my bag. I just have to get to my mid-range.

How much have you grown as a 3-point shooter? What’s the best part of your game?

I’m getting much more consistent as a shooter. I don’t know my percentage right now. But the best part of my game is when I’m doing everything, when I’m rebounding, defending, blocking shots, scoring. That’s the best part of my game, when I’m focused and locked in.

Are you ready for the pressure that comes with being at Kentucky?

I feel like I’ll be prepared, just me being from Philly. I don’t think it can get any worse than Philly. Because of that, I think I’ll be prepared. I’ll be fine.

What is your favorite in-game dunk?

I don’t really be pulling out all my best in-game dunks, but I like doing windmills here and there. Just like that windmill, but I’ll probably pull out something new this year. It’s my senior year, so gotta do something. And then I’ll do something new when I get to Kentucky.

Are you ready for the backlash of choosing Kentucky over Tennessee, that rivalry?

I’m already preparing myself for that because after I committed — I don’t usually look at tweets like that, but after I committed, I was just looking at them and laughing. I’ll be prepared for that [laughs].

What is the best high school mixtape you’ve ever watched?

I would say Sharife Cooper and Greg Brown. What was that Greg Brown mixtape, his senior season when he was dunking on everybody? That one, his high school mixtape.

How do you feel about being called more of a Robin than Batman? Your abilities to help make teammates better?

I’ll be fine because that’s how I am now. I’m not really one of those people who like to go shoot a thousand shots, I stay in my box. I do what I know I can do. Like, I take 14 shots per game now, so I’m comfortable being myself.

How did you navigate that mindset during the recruiting process with so many schools promising shots and a star role?

I knew I was going to be playing with other good guys. Me being at Imhotep, I’m not even shooting a ton of shots here. I wanted to go somewhere I could still be myself and just shoot the same amount of shots I shoot now.

Which blue blood are you most looking forward to playing: Kansas, UNC or Duke?

Duke because me, Jared (McCain), Caleb (Foster) and Mackenzie (Mgbako) all have a little rivalry from SLAM (Summer Classic). Jared picked Rob and we wound up picking Mackenzie and they were complaining like, ‘Oh, you picked my teammate.’ So yeah.

What is your scoring report of Kentucky’s other four signees?

My boy Reed, I haven’t gotten to see him play like that. But when I did see him play, my boy can flat-out shoot, he can slash a little bit, all of that. Same thing with Rob — and Rob’s got sneaky bounce, so he’ll dunk on you, cross you over and all that. You can say that about DJ, but he don’t even like dunking like that for real. You barely get to see DJ dunk, but I know he can do a lot of stuff. Then Aaron, he can dribble and all that, space the floor and shoot threes, pop.

Imhotep Charter (PA) vs. North Laurel (KY) will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Freedom Hall on Sunday, one of five games on the event schedule.