Justin Edwards | 6-7 | SF
Imhotep Charter | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky
Edwards had one of the single best performances at this year's Hoophall, posting 25 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists and dominating his matchup in a win over highly regarded wing prospect Ian Jackson.Edwards' aggressiveness and intensity on both ends of the floor stood out. He got downhill repeatedly for emphatic above-the-rim finishes, made the right reads with several intelligent passes, showed his improving pull-up game while demonstrating good instincts and toughness crashing the glass and jumping passing lanes.
NBA scouts will be intrigued with Edwards' size, length, physicality, two-way versatility and productivity, especially in a class that leaves much to be desired as far as surefire NBA contributors. His ballhandling and perimeter shooting have room to grow, and while turning 20 in the first month of his college career isn't ideal, there's a lot to like about the role-playing potential and high floor Edwards already demonstrates relative to other high school seniors.
D.J. Wagner | 6-3 | PG/SG
Camden | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky
Wagner showed positives and negatives in his two-game outing at Hoophall, scoring 27 points in a loss to Corona Centennial and then struggling with efficiency and shot selection in a blowout win over Bishop Gorman.While he hasn't grown much in the past year, Wagner is clearly working on his frame. He's one of the best shot creators in the class, showing an impressive ability to change speeds and put pressure on the rim with polished footwork, long strides and outstanding ballhandling ability using either hand, getting to the free throw line at a strong rate thanks to his propensity for seeking out and absorbing contact in the lane.
Wagner's ability to create for teammates and perimeter shooting haven't improved as much as expected since he emerged as an elite-level prospect early in his high school career. He still primarily looks for his own offense operating out of isolation or pick-and-roll with most of his assists coming off simple drive and dish plays to the strong side or extra passes along the perimeter. Considering he only stands 6-3 and is a streaky outside shooter historically (25% 3P% this season, 26% 3P% for his career), that's certainly not ideal for a player most view as a top-five prospect in this class.
Wagner's defense also is a work in progress, especially relative to his dimensions (6-5 wingspan) and the fact that he projects to play quite a bit of shooting guard next season at Kentucky alongside another undersized, ball-dominant guard in Robert Dillingham, who is also not known for his defense or outside shooting.
Not turning 18 until May, Wagner has time to continue to improve his weaknesses, even if it's fair to say his development has stagnated somewhat over the past year relative to the very high expectations he generated.
Aaron Bradshaw | 7-0 | C
Camden | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky
Sporting a huge size advantage in his Hoophall matchups, Bradshaw was able to dominate the offensive glass, finish emphatically when spoon-fed around the basket and even show some flashes of his improving touch from the perimeter, but did not have the most impressive overall weekend relative to his lofty standing.Sporting a narrow frame with an extremely thin lower body, Bradshaw has a ways to go to hold his own from a physicality standpoint at the college level. He gets pushed around more than you'd like to see from a 7-footer, shying away from contact in the lane and settling for quite a few difficult turnarounds, fadeaways and face-up jumpers, to mixed results. He also isn't much of a passer, as the game often moves too fast for him.
Defensively, Bradshaw doesn't make the impact you might expect relative to his size and length. He struggles to move his feet on the perimeter due to his upright stance, is a mixed bag as a defensive rebounder and rim-protector and gets posted up and scored on frequently by players smaller than him. To his credit, he plays with a very high-intensity level, running the floor with purpose and making an effort to crash the offensive glass with his length and excellent motor. He's also shown clear improvement with his outside shot, is reliable from the free throw line and led the Nike EYBL in dunks with 45 in 25 games. He's clearly been on an upward trajectory the past two years and is a strong communicator who brings a positive spirit on and off the floor.
The margin for error in the modern NBA for thin-framed big men in Bradshaw's mold has never been thinner, as teams expect 7-footers to anchor their defense and also bring a versatile skill set offensively as passers and outside shooters. Bradshaw has a ways to go in those areas and is headed to a Kentucky Wildcats squad next season that will likely be flush with big men options.
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