Georgia’s Anthony Edwards goes No. 1 in latest 2020 NBA mock draft

Georgia basketball SG Anthony Edwards is projected to be selected first overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Star Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards declared for the NBA draft this past September, following an absolutely electric freshman year at UGA.

Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Dawgs during the 2019-2020 season.  He has been in the talks of being a top three pick in the draft this year, along with Memphis center James Wiseman and the Illawarra Hawks point guard LaMelo Ball.

In NBC’s final version of its 2020 NBA Mock Draft Edwards goes No. 1 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

NBC’s Top 5:

  • 5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Obi Toppin (Dayton, PF)
  • 4. Chicago Bulls: Deni Avdija (Maccabi Tel Aviv, SG/SF)
  • 3. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks, PG/SG)
  • 2. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman (Memphis, C)
  • 1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (Georgia, SG)

There isn’t quite a consensus on who is the best of these three but Edwards, Ball and Wiseman present the biggest upside in the draft.

Here’s what NBC’s Tyler Byrum and Chase Hughes had to say about Edwards going No. 1 over the other two prospects:

Despite all the momentum for LaMelo Ball to be the first pick, we are sticking with Edwards who presents a super high ceiling due to his explosive athleticism and makes a perfect fit within the core Minnesota is building around. Fit often doesn’t determine the first overall pick, but it may in a year like this with little separating the top three guys. Edwards could be an ideal complement to Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell as a slasher on the wing.

Edwards would fit in with Minnesota very well.  They have their stars in point guard D’Angelo Russell and center Karl Anthony Towns but could use some serious help at the shooting guard position.

Edwards would provide the Timberwolves with a great wing threat that could add a whole new aspect to their offensive scheme.

If Edwards is to go No.1, he will be the first Georgia Bulldog to ever do so.  The closest to that accomplishment are Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at the No. 8 pick in 2013 and Dominique Wilkins at the No. 3 pick in 1982.

The 2020 NBA Draft begins tonight at 7:00 P.M. ET on ESPN.

Bleacher Report releases NBA mock draft: Where does Anthony Edwards go?

Bleacher Report released its latest NBA mock draft….where does Georgia basketball star Anthony Edwards go.

Georgia basketball sensation Anthony Edwards has a chance to become the university’s first No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick.

Whenever the draft may be, it’s a lock that Edwards will go within the first three picks, but most expect him to be taken at that No. 1 position, which could very well be held by the Golden State Warriors.

On Tuesday, Bleacher Report released its NBA mock draft and had Edwards taken No. 1 by the Warriors, followed by Memphis center James Wiseman to Cleveland and LaMelo Ball to Minnesota.

On Edwards, BR wrote:

Although the Bulldogs struggled this season, the 18-year-old had an impressive showing. He started all 32 of their games, averaging 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. He shot 40.2 percent from the field and was strong from the free-throw line, where he shot 77.2 percent.

Last year, it was clear that Duke forward Zion Williamson was the consensus top player in the draft class. Edwards’ case isn’t quite as strong, but he’s an exciting prospect who could continue to get better with time and likely has a high ceiling.

And if it’s Golden State that selects Edwards, he will be learning from veteran guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, two of the best in the game.

If a star player like Edwards can come into Georgia’s historically average basketball program and maintain his projected draft position while packing Stegeman Coliseum to the brim, it shows young local talent that they can do the same and receive that fanfare and adoration similar to Edwards’.

Edwards going No. 1 overall could prove huge for the future of Georgia of basketball.