2023 Recruiting: Justin Edwards

[Storrs South]

How often do you hear from Kentucky?

Once in the blue, not a lot.

What do you like about UConn?

Coach (Dan) Hurley and coach Kimani (Young) base their team on energy and playing hard and that’s similar to my high school.

 

[KingAG]

Yes yes yes

 

[husky429]

That was just about the shortests, tersest feeling interview I've ever read lol.

It's always been good guys or UK. No inside info, just a gut feeling.

Tom Moore is the one recruiting him, right?

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

I'm thinking our relationship with Team Final has probably soured after Diggins and Floyd both entered the portal.

Will be interesting to see anyway.

 

[huskyfan224]

I'm thinking our relationship with Team Final has probably soured after Diggins and Floyd both entered the portal.

Will be interesting to see anyway.

Those guys weren't top 10-15 players in the country coming out of high school. He will be a starter wherever he goes

 

[husky429]

Remind me of Paul George. Much more ballhandling and perimeter work than I saw in his HS games. Love that he can pivot on both feet--underrated skill at the college level for wings. Severely limited Polley and Whaley for years.

 

[UConNick]

I'm thinking our relationship with Team Final has probably soured after Diggins and Floyd both entered the portal.

Will be interesting to see anyway.

True, I definitely got less optimistic about Edwards when all that went down.

But who knows, maybe his bond with Hurley and Young is strong enough anyways. Certainly encouraging to hear UK may be backing off a touch.

 

[husky429]

Video from his state championship game courtest of cue the music, if you haven't seen it.

 

[BattersonBoyz]

Hearing that we're likely out with the loss of Sool and Floyd.

Sucks but what can you do, hopefully there's still a chance.

 

[KingAG]

I'm thinking our relationship with Team Final has probably soured after Diggins and Floyd both entered the portal.

Will be interesting to see anyway.

That’s assuming they left with Ill feeling towards the staff. Maybe it was more of a business decision than a personal issue one. Diggins and Floyd may very well still have an amicable relationship with Hurley.

 

[bigknight3]

That’s assuming they left with Ill feeling towards the staff. Maybe it was more of a business decision than a personal issue one. Diggins and Floyd may very well stink have an amicable relationship with Hurley.

Still*

 

[Jre2000]

True, I definitely got less optimistic about Edwards when all that went down.

But who knows, maybe his bond with Hurley and Young is strong enough anyways. Certainly encouraging to hear UK may be backing off a touch.

Castle said he would recruit Edwards hard, and he has been recruiting him really hard. I think Castle gives us an even more legit shot at him than before

 

[Hungryhusky99]

Hopefully we have enough NIL firepower to compete here

 

[UConnStats]

I'm thinking our relationship with Team Final has probably soured after Diggins and Floyd both entered the portal.

Will be interesting to see anyway.

They both transferred because they didn’t see a big enough role for themselves. Edwards won’t have to worry about that on any team he joins.

Not everything is that connected. This would be no different than Team Final coaches thinking “I hope UConn doesn’t stop showing our program love/interest because two of our guys didn’t pan out for them.” There’s a codependent relationship in recruiting and not every player works out, which every coach knows.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yes, hell yes. Please. This is what I'm talking about.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

They both transferred because they didn’t see a big enough role for themselves. Edwards won’t have to worry about that on any team he joins.

Not everything is that connected. This would be no different than Team Final coaches thinking “I hope UConn doesn’t stop showing our program love/interest because two of our guys didn’t pan out for them.” There’s a codependent relationship in recruiting and not every player works out, which every coach knows.

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

 

[UConnStats]

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

Yeah Hurley wouldn’t do that. I totally understand your concern, but I think there’s a lot more grey area to it than most fans would consider.

 

[husky429]

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

Definitely makes you think twice--I hadn't seen that one before.

Hurley also doesn't "push" anyone into the portal. See: Richie Springs. Once a kid is offered a scholly, Hurley will give them those 4 years to get a degree if that's what they want. As he said in interviews, he is honest with people about their expectations with PT. I don't consider that "pushing" anyone into the portal... but I could also see an AAU team misrepresenting the truth on social media in this way too.

And TBH if Team Final wants to not let kids be recruited by schools that have pushed out former Final players... there going to be cutting off their relationships with A LOT of local teams. 1/3 of D1 players transferred this year that didn't go pro or graduate.

 

[UofCT]

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

If I was competing for players with Team Final Nike EYBL I would show this tweet and let them know if you go to Team Final Nike you won't be recruited by X Y and Z schools

 

[Greedo]

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

They can say that but I don’t buy it. If one of their players grows up a huge Duke fan, is the team going to tell Duke to kick rocks because they pushed out a player in the past? Seems like it’s all talk to try to support their past players but in practice it doesn’t make sense.

Same for a player that’s only getting one or two P6 offers. Are they going to ignore that team and force their player to go to a mid major when he wants P6? No

 

[PNolanFan]

If I was competing for players with Team Final Nike EYBL I would show this tweet and let them know if you go to Team Final Nike you won't be recruited by X Y and Z schools

I also think that the coaches of AAU teams in general have less pull with their players than alot of people think. If a kid wants to go to Duke or Kentucky (many many blue chip guys have transferred out of those schools) I doubt an AAU coach would have a problem with that

 

[Huskyforlife]

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

I mean, what would they do? Block the coaches number on the kids phone?

 

[UConnStats]

I mean, what would they do? Block the coaches number on the kids phone?

It’s classic AAU basketball for them to essentially say “we dictate where our players go” without even realizing what they’re admitting to.

Unfortunately the AAU/HS scene is flooded with coaches and parents who think they’re way more important and powerful than they are.

 

[husky429]

It’s classic AAU basketball for them to essentially say “we dictate where our players go” without even realizing what they’re admitting to.

Unfortunately the AAU/HS scene is flooded with coaches and parents who think they’re way more important and powerful than they are.

^^^^^

 

[husky99]

Word i hear is uconn is putting alot of energy and time into him.

 

[UCDaveD]

Word i hear is uconn is putting alot of energy and time into him.

I would hope so.

 

[KingAG]

Word i hear is uconn is putting alot of energy and time into him.

Good to hear. This staff rarely misses when they prioritize someone

 

[Tenspro2002]

Word i hear is uconn is putting alot of energy and time into him.

Good, but expected.

Not saying this is the case here, but you saying that reminds me of when a reporter asks a recruit which school they're excited about and they answer "school X is recruiting me hardest". That's not actually a strong endorsement of the school, in fact usually the opposite!

 

[gtcam]

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

This is interesting
Not sure if they are serious or just putting up some window dressing
The bottom line is that this Portal BS has to stop or it will have a devastating overall effect on college basketball in many areas

 

[BGesus4]

This was the tweet that made me think about it. Again, who knows. Maybe we didn’t push either out and it’s no big deal.

Iirc rahsool wasn’t a team final guy. And it’s hard to read anything other than Hurley wanted Floyd here.