Vicky Graff Photo
Just how special was what Justin Edwards did for Kentucky in Saturday’s win over Alabama?
According to UK stats guru Corey Price, the only Division I men’s basketball player with at least 10 field goal attempts, including four from 3-point range, without a miss against a top 25 opponent since the 2010-11 season is Edwards.
He went 10-for-10 Saturday and had 28 points in the 117-95 rout of Alabama in his first big breakout game at UK since coming into the season being hyped as one of the nation’s best freshmen.
“I wouldn’t say I really needed it, you know?” Edwards said after the game. “I always knew that I was going to have a good game. I didn’t know that it was going to be this game. But I always believed in God, and knew that I was going to be fine.”
What a great attitude for a player who was once mentioned as a possible No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft to have when he was not playing like that until Saturday.
“I’ve been struggling mentally for the last … basically the whole season. So just to be able to go out there and play how I did, it means a lot,” Edwards said.
Edwards scored in double figures in six of his first eight games at UK and averaged over four rebounds per game in those eight games. However, in the next 12 games he got to double figures just once.
Credit freshman teammate Reed Sheppard for perhaps his biggest assist of the season by recommending his mental health coach to Edwards.
“Reed introduced me to a mental health coach and we’ve been talking. And I’ve been reading books about mental health. Just to be able to be free, just play and mentally be better, it feels really good,” Edwards said.
He’s learned to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts and he should have plenty of those today after amassing 28 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals against Alabama.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have this guy. He’s been able to help me be positive, no matter what, have a positive voice and a positive mindset,” Sheppard said. “I knew Justin wasn’t doing it on purpose. He was just struggling and needed someone to talk to about staying positive.
“I’m really glad he’s finally turning the page and I’m super proud of him.”
While coach John Calipari never lost faith in Edwards and praised him Saturday, no one praised Edwards more than Sheppard.
“He’s not thinking, he’s just going out there and playing basketball. Justin Edwards is a really, really good basketball player,” Sheppard said. “Every time he goes out on the court, he’s just playing and having fun. That’s what I tell him, I just look at him and tell him to smile. That’s kind of our joke with each other, any time one of us isn’t smiling, the other one tells them to smile. Stay having fun and don’t lose the enjoyment of playing basketball.”
Sheppard said Edwards is “getting his rhythm and finding out who he is as player” at perhaps the perfect time for Kentucky.
Edwards said he never lost hope even if others did wonder if he would live up to his preseason hype.
“Just stay the course? It’s not going to rain forever. Stay the course and believe in God,” Edwards said.
Say amen BBN.
18 Responses
Edwards did have maybe a once in a lifetime game and one that will be remembered by many for years to come. You could seen the confidence in his face when he let the missiles fly. It has to be a nice feeling to have your teamie Shepherd on your side shouting out your virtues as well.
I read this yesterday. I hope people understand now what these " Young Men" are going through as they belittle them. I hope people understand how difficult it is for young men to talk about mental health especially young black men. Mental health is rarely talked in any home but less for young black men. Reed is a great young man. A product of his environment. To have parents that recognize even the best kids need a little mental help is truly a blessing for him. And now he has shared that gift with someone else. Only makes me love and appreciate him more.
These kids really do care for each other it’s not just "coach speak" and this is clear proof of that. Hoping this is just the beginning for Edwards and this team. But either way this will help young men everywhere! ! Just hearing that Reed (and Edwards) have a mental heath coach will help others who may be struggling. To me this is an important admission, it will help young men playing sports everywhere and trying to live up to expectations! !
It was nice to see Edwards have a big game, but will we ever see it again? The same goes for Z. Alabama was the softest team we have played; will Miss State be that nice? How about the Hogs? Vandy will be as mean as they can be and Tennessee will put the league on notice that they intend to steamroll through the SEC tourney. Two more losses will put us at 10; adding another from the SEC tourney should saddle us with an 8 or 9 seed in the Dance. A top rated recruiting class, the return of Reeves and Onyenso, and a nice transfer in Mitchell still yields another double digit loss team…with nothing to show for it. We have been Caliparied AGAIN! The Calipari way doesn’t work anymore. It’s time for him to do the honorable thing and retire.
You might thing about asking Reed for his mental health coach! Come on man…how about a little positivity. Go Cats!
Good one Wanda
I won’t be positive until Calipari is gone.
You’re going to be miserable for a long time. It would be better to live by Edward’s quote.
Very funny 😁 😂. But he is miserable and wants to share it!!
Barry P is NOT a UK fan. let’s get that straight. The most negative loser fan of all time. He criticized UK fans this year when we made it back into the Top 10, and got excited about it, as if we should just expect to be in the top 10 every year, all year long. Nothing will ever please him, nothing. When Cal does retire, there will be a major drop off in recruiting and talent level, for at least a few years, which will in turn mean more loses. Mark it down, during this period Barry P will be the same negative Debbie downer fan he is today. This also goes for other loser negative fans on this board. Go Cats!!!
David, it’s not my fault that your parents were brother and sister. There must be something to what I post or you, Jimmy Jimmy, FMLY, and 79 wouldn’t squeal so much and so loud. Most of the knowledgeable fans here agree with me. You rah rahs can squeal all that you want. Calipari will be history by the end of April.
No truth to it Barry. Got to fight the lies.
Now we need to find a way to get Mr. Wagner to rejoin the team and live up to his lofty expectations. I think Califraudi is really the one that needs psychiatric intervention. If he would just get out of the way and let the talent shine thru with some good assistance from other members of the coaching staff, I think we would be further ahead than we are. We all saw what Z could do in his first game and then he drops off of Cal’s radar screen and Cal wakes up to this gut feeling that he needs to play him more? It is disappointing that Z’s defense is that far behind his offense, but he can control that better than he has shown by pulling a little more dog out of his bag. He is a very special kid and and engaging personality.
Reed Sheppard is a great teammate and good kid.
It would be wonderful if he hung around another year.
You are very correct. A great kid from a great family. It would be great if Z could come back also. He might be my fav on the team.
This is a once in a lifetime situation – a great player whose parents were both great players here. I’m betting that Reed’s back so Jeff and Staci can continue to live the dream for one more year !
And, Reed is making great $ anyway.
One can only hope!!
MR BARRY,
YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES:
GET ON THE TRAIN OR STAY AT THE STATION!