Sports Illustrated recently sent photographers across the country to take photos of some of the nation’s top high school players in the 2010 recruiting class and headlining that group was Georgia guard Anthony Edwards, a big-time recruiting target for Kentucky.
Sports Illustrated’s Super Bowl Issue includes a two-page photo of Edwards driving and showcasing his length and strength. He’s also the first player shown in the photo series.
Edwards has narrowed his potential college choice to four schools — Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida State. He’s ranked as the top player in the 2019 class (he moved ahead of former UK recruit James Wiseman who signed with Memphis in November as soon as he reclassified to the 2019 class).
Veteran sportswriter Dick “Hoops” Weiss says the 6-5 shooting guard from Holy Spirit Prep in Atlanta is a rare talent. He took an official visit to Kentucky when the Cats beat Mississippi State last week and before he eliminated Kansas from his list of potential schools. Edwards is friends with UK freshman Ashton Hagans, who is also from Georgia, and Tyler Herro.
Calipari pointed out the success he’s had with De’Aaron Fox, Jamal Murray, Malik Monk and others at UK. He also got to meet with UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart during his visit, a clear indicator about how high he is on UK’s wish list.
Sisk has no doubt Edwards can make an impact no matter which school he picks.
“It is much easier for an explosive guard to step right in and make an impact than a big man who still has to grow into his body,” said David Sisk, a former middle school, high school, AAU and college coach since 1993 who is now also with Rivals.com. “Edwards has the frame and the athleticism, and has talent dripping off of him. The thoughts of Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards coming in together should make heads spin if it works out.”
Sisk knows talent. During his AAU coaching career with the Travelers he worked with over 100 players who played high major college basketball. Some players he coached included Ron Mercer, Desmond Allison and Oliver Simmons — who all played for Kentucky. Mercer was on the 1996 national championship team and went on to play in the NBA.
“Edwards has the tools and explosiveness to dominate opponents and that is what coach Cal wants,” Sisk said. “He is the top guard in the country and the best scorer. I’m not saying he is an Allen Iverson, but if you take a talent like that and put it at the college level, that is close to what you would have from a standpoint of scoring and simply taking a game over with his raw ability and talent. He will be a multiple time NBA All-Star.”
Kentucky is not the perceived leader for Edwards — a problem Calipari is having with other top recruits in the 2019 recruiting class. Sisk, like most others, believes that Florida State and Georgia are the leaders for Edwards.
“Edwards is all about relationships and both staffs have done a great job with that. I think the question about Kentucky is can they make inroads in that department,” Sisk said. ” Calipari likes to sell the business decision part of it. I don’t know if that will get the job done. Edwards will be in the NBA no matter where he chooses to go to college.”