Justin Edwards

Justin Edwards was born on December 16, and his basketball foundation was strongly influenced by his mother, Ebony Twiggs, who played college basketball at Cheyney University and professionally in Portugal. Following in his mother’s footsteps, who was also named MVP of the Philadelphia Public League championship game, Justin showcased early athletic promise. He attended Imhotep Charter High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he led his team to consecutive state titles.

Edwards’ high school career was marked by consistent performance and national recognition. He was ranked as high as No. 3 overall by major recruiting services. In his junior year at Imhotep Charter, he averaged 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He continued to excel in his senior year, averaging 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, earning him the MaxPreps Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year award. His talent was further acknowledged through his selection as a 2023 McDonald’s All-American and a member of the USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit Team. He also shared Co-MVP honors at the Iverson Classic. During his time with Team Final, he contributed to their advance to the Peach Jam quarterfinals, averaging 15.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc.

In his freshman year (2023-24) at the University of Kentucky, Edwards played in 32 contests, starting 30 of them. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, maintaining shooting percentages of 48.6% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range. A significant milestone occurred on February 24, 2024, when he scored a career-high 28 points against Alabama, going a perfect 10 of 10 from the field, a feat only achieved twice before in Kentucky’s history. For this performance, he was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week on February 26, 2024. Other notable performances included 17 points at Vanderbilt and 16 points with six rebounds at Tennessee in an upset victory.