Anthony Edwards already is thinking like a pro.
Georgia's star freshman known as "Ant Man" was one of the first frontline collegiate players to declare postgame handshakes and autograph sessions with fans off limits because of the threat of the COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus. Edwards sent out a tweet and an Instagram post last week apologizing and asking for understanding.
A week later, NBA locker rooms have been closed to fans and media and, internationally at least, sporting events either are being canceled or conducted without spectators.
“I’m going to continue to do fist-bumps,” Edwards said after the Bulldogs’ practiced Tuesday before leaving for Nashville and the SEC Tournament. “But no autographs or anything like that, not too many people touching, putting their arms around me to take pictures. You know, keep your distance. I’m not trying to get sick or anything like that.”
Edwards has about 40 million reasons not to want to get sick. That was how many dollars the contract was worth that last year’s No. 1 NBA draft selection, Zion Williamson, signed after one season at Duke. Many projections have Edwards being in that position this June when the draft reconvenes in New York.
That said, after being named SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches and SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press on Tuesday and getting ready to play what most believe will be his final games as a Georgia Bulldog, Edwards still insists he has not made any decisions regarding his athletic future beyond Wednesday night’s game against Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament (7 p.m., SEC Network).
“I mean, I don’t know what I’m doing yet,” Edwards said, with verbal emphasis on the word “I.” “I know you see the projections and what everybody says, but personally I don’t even know what I’m doing yet. I’m still an 18-year-old kid, so I haven’t thought about anything like that.”
While it’s probably not truthful for Edwards to say he hasn’t thought about it, it is true that he is 18 years old. In fact, with an August birthday, he is the youngest player on a Georgia team that is one of the more youthful in America. He’s one of nine freshmen.
So, Edwards reasons, there is still much for him to gain and to learn by coming back to college for another season.
“I’m still young,” said Edwards, who is the nation’s highest-scoring freshman, at 19.5 points per game. “I feel like I’m still immature. I’ve got a lot of growing up to do. And I love my teammates. They’re like brothers to me. So, I’m going to feel really, really bad if I do leave. But I’m definitely thinking about coming back another year.”
The reality is, there will be plenty of time to contemplate all that. The NBA’s draft declaration date for underclassmen is not until April 26. So, technically, Edwards has until then to make an informed decision and submit the necessary paperwork.
Players at Duke, Kentucky and Kansas do this all the time. But it was Tom Crean, Georgia’s second-year coach, who convinced Edwards that he could go to college 65 miles away from his Atlanta home and be able to enhance his NBA stock just as well as he could at any of those other distant outposts.
That has proved true. But as far as Edwards staying or going, Crean said he stays out of that part – for now.
“We communicate throughout the day every day,” Crean said Tuesday. “What’s going to happen is going to happen. It’s not a topic that we spend any time on. Right now it’s what do we need to do tomorrow, what do we need to do today, the coaching points, the detail points. … There will time for (the pro decision). I don’t think it will be that hard when the time comes.”
No, the basketball world appears to have seen all that it needs. It’s not just the high-scoring outputs and incredible highlight videos Edwards has produced during his one college basketball season. What has made him even more attractive to the pro ranks is Edwards’ attitude, his interaction with his Georgia teammates both on and off the floor and, of course, that body.
Amid all the games and practices and a nearly two-week battle with the flu earlier this year, Edwards has managed to gain weight and get stronger through the course of the season. He has averaged right at 33 minutes per game. While everybody talks about his scoring, which has included three games of 32 points or more, he also ranks second on the team with 87 assists, second in rebounding at 5.3 per game and leads the team and is one of the best in the SEC with 43 steals.
“He does so many things that just don’t get noticed,” Crean said. “He’s one of the best screeners I’ve ever coached. He literally is. He gets people open. He likes to see his teammates score. He likes to score, but he really likes to see his teammates score and to get them open.”
While Edwards was named the SEC’s best freshman, he was not included on the coaches’ nine-player All-SEC squad that was released Tuesday. A good argument could be made that he should have been. But the Bulldogs have struggled this season, going 15-16 overall and winning five SEC games, and Edwards was relegated to second-team All-SEC.
But that’s OK. Edwards said there has been lessons in that as well. In fact, he believes this whole UGA experience has benefited him greatly.
“I didn’t really know much about scouting – scouting players, scouting teams,” Edwards said. “When I got here, I kind of just thought I’d score 20, 30 every night and just kill it every time. I had to realize I’m the key to everyone’s scouting report. … I’m about the only one talked about on the entire team.
“At the end of the day, whatever happens on the court, happens. Whatever people want to talk about, they’re going to talk about it. I know how much work I put in and how good my teammates are, so as long as they come out there and compete, I’m going to help them.”
Edwards said he knows there’s some disappointment in how the Bulldogs played this season in possibly his only season at UGA. But he’s also aware of Georgia’s history and knows that in Dominique Wilkins’ last season at Georgia, he led the Bulldogs to the NIT semifinals in New York.
Edwards certainly is not closing any doors on any such possibilities for this team. If Georgia can get by Ole Miss, it will face a Florida team that the Dogs twice held significant double-digit leads against.
“We’re looking at it as a fresh start, a new beginning for us,” Edwards said. “… We’re definitely looking forward to extending the season, no matter where it is. We’re coming in here with a 0-0 mindset and taking it one game at a time.”
Unless something magical happens, the SEC Tournament likely will be the biggest stage Edwards plays on as a collegian. But if there is anything that might convince Edwards to come back, it’s his Georgia teammates. They’ve gotten extremely close since he took up residence in Athens nine months ago. The trials and tribulations and travel have created a bond unlike anything Edwards had previously experienced.
But, with or without him, Edwards insists the Georgia program is on an upward trajectory.
“They are great dudes on and off the court, and they all love to work,” Edwards said. “I feel like the program is going to get really, really good and just keep getting more and better recruits – even better than me. I feel like they’re going to be really good."
