Brandon’s Blog: Anthony Edwards’ case for the number 1 spot
Anthony Edwards has been one of the hottest names around since reclassifying over a month ago. His stock rose throughout the summer as he dominated the Under Armour Circuit. After making the jump to the senior class, there have been questions on where he should be ranked within the top 5 nationally. Prep Hoops and Rivals have him at 3, while ESPN has him at the number four spot. 247Sports is the lone national ranking site that has him as their number one player. After attending the Christmas Crossover this weekend, here are my takeaways on his game and where he should be ranked:
Edwards clearly passed the eye from the get go. He stands at 6-foot-4 pushing 6-foot-5 and possesses a “cut-up” NBA-ready body at 200 pounds.
He stepped onto the court ready to kill. His explosiveness and supreme athleticism was not only on display when getting to the rack, but also when grabbing rebounds. He easily fills it up in the scoring department, but can also can make a dominant impact on the glass and with his passing. Edwards did not shoot it as well as he wanted to from deep. However, it was easy to see he is capable of consistently hitting from the perimeter off the bounce or catch.
Final Stats vs. Tomball Concordia Lutheran: 25 points, fourteen rebounds, and six assists (L)
Final Stats vs. Fort Bend Elkins: 32 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and two blocks (W)
Conclusion: Anthony Edwards is not only the best prospect in the senior class; but, the best player in high school basketball. Adam Silver could league this man right now if it was allowed. His size, skill, and NBA projection sets him apart from the rest of the competition. On November 27, he cut his list to eight schools: Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina, and UCLA. My gut tells me this will be a battle between the Seminoles and the Wildcats. Edwards would be a focal point offensively and a defensive goon in Leonard Hamilton’s system. While at Kentucky, he definitely could be the next superb freshman to be a one-and-done lottery pick. It will be fun to see where the “Ant Man” goes and how he thrives in college and at the highest level of basketball.