Former Kentucky Wildcats coach John Calipari’s final class of NBA draftees included Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, who were both lottery picks. However, another player who left Kentucky along with them was Justin Edwards, who went undrafted.
Edwards struggled for much of his Freshman season in Lexington, and many thought he should return for another season. The fact that he went undrafted seemed to back that up. However, something funny happened from that point.
The Philadelphia 76ers signed Edwards as a free agent. Then, he began earning more and more playing time, showing off the kind of skill that made him a five-star recruit. By season’s end, he had averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.
Statistically, Edwards out-played both Sheppard and Dillingham. He even shot better from three-point range than his two former teammates. For that, he has been rewarded with a new three-year contract per ESPN’s Shams Charania. He’ll make $2 million next season, and two of the seasons are guaranteed.
The new contract is a big win for Edwards. Not long ago, he had few who believed in him. He bet on himself, and it paid off. Big Blue Nation couldn’t be happier.