Dre'una Edwards was almost unstoppable against Belmont Sunday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
She was the 2019 Pac-12 freshman of the year after averaging 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for Utah. She had 18 double-digit scoring games, including three games with 20 or more points. Dre’una Edwards decided to transfer to Kentucky, though, after her amazing freshman season and spent last season rehabbing an injury while she was not able to play.
Former Kentucky women’s coach Matthew Mitchell raved about her potential and what she could add to the team. Until Sunday, though, I had no idea just how good she could be.
The 6-3 sophomore scored a career-high 27 points with a career-tying 15 rebounds in a 70-50 win over Belmont — the first UK player with at least 27 points and 15 rebounds since Evelyn Akhator in 2017. She was 11 of 19 from the field including two 3-pointers in four attempts. She even made three steals.
I told Belmont coach Bart Brooks that Edwards was more impressive than I anticipated.
“Pretty impressive my chair, too,” Brooks said. “She made a few plays … finished with her left hand in transition. Just talented. She played a great game.
“I was hoping she would not play that way. We did our homework. We understood how good and how explosive she is. Film does not do her explosiveness justice. Going in the corner and knocking down 3’s adds a whole other layer to her game.”
Edwards was asked if this was her breakout game. I followed up by asking if she considered it a breakout game or if this was just the way she expected to play.
“I’m going to be honest, I think this is the way I should play every game,” Edwards said. “I’m going to go in hard and do what I have to do. If that’s not scoring, that’s not scoring, but I’m going to go get the board, I’m going to go steal the ball, I’m going to go do everything that I need to do, whatever it is to contribute to the team.”
She admitted it was hard not playing last year but explained it gave her some “mental positivity” as she watched UK play.
“I had to figure out a way, what else can I do on this team besides play basketball, what else am I here for, and it definitely made me a better person,” she said.
Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy said she had been seeing play like this from Edwards, who got in early foul trouble in UK’s opening game against Murray.
“We were just so excited that you all got to see her play this well. She is very smart, has a high basketball IQ, extremely versatile, as you all saw tonight, and she will cause a problem to the opposing team,” Elzy said.
Just think of the problems she will cause with All-American Rhyne Howard also on the floor. Howard was suspended for the first two games but will be back playing Thursday when UK plays at Kansas State.
Center Olivia Owens battles against Edwards often in practice. She enjoys that.
“We are both physical. She goes at me and I go at her, and it’s all love at the end of the day,” Owens said. “We’re here to make each other better, so that’s what it’s like in practice. We get games like this where Dre is out there just beasting and doing amazing, so it’s paying off.”
