UK’s Justin Edwards, once a possible No. 1 pick, goes undrafted but is headed to the 76ers

At one time considered the possible No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, former Kentucky basketball star Justin Edwards instead went undrafted with 30 picks Wednesday and 28 more Thursday being taken without his name called.

Last summer, The Athletic and USA Today were among the national outlets that projected Edwards as being the top overall selection in this year’s draft, a prediction that obviously didn’t come close to holding true after Edwards experienced an up-and-down season in Lexington.

Instead it was Antonio Reeves being chosen at No. 47 overall in the second round Thursday, following Reed Sheppard (third overall to the Houston Rockets) and Rob Dillingham (eighth to the San Antonio Spurs before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves) being chosen in Wednesday’s first round.

Former UK teammate Tre Mitchell also went undrafted, but that was expected with him not appearing in major mock drafts. Most of those had Edwards being taken early or in the middle of the second round.

But Edwards quickly found a new home.

The 6-foot-8 guard from Philadelphia who averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game last season has agreed to a two-way deal with his hometown 76ers, NBA insider Shams Charania reported shortly after the draft.

With Edwards not being selected Thursday, that left the John Calipari era at Kentucky with exactly 50 NBA draft picks.

On Friday afternoon, Mitchell confirmed on social media that he will play for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s summer league team.