While some athletes seem destined for basketball greatness from an early age, Anthony Edwards may not have exhibited such natural traits, but possessed extraordinary athleticism that set him apart. Courtesy of playing football and basketball, "Ant-Man" eventually grew so certain of his abilities that he recently admitted how he was confident enough to transition from high school basketball to the NBA at an even earlier age.
"Ant-Man" was a phenom in high school
In his senior year at Holy Spirit Preparatory School, the two-time All-Star posted impressive averages of 29.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, deserving a spot in the USA Today's All-USA First Team. It was clear that his speed, aggressiveness, and agility had made him far superior to the players of his class. Reflecting on this in an interview with Chris Tucker recently, "Ant-Man" sounded off on not making the leap to the NBA right out of high school.
"I was a class clown, too, and school was hard for me. I was the same as you," Edwards said . "I was ready to get out there. I wish I could have went (to the NBA) out of high school, honestly."
Related: Julius Erving believes no player is similar to him in the modern NBA: “I was a small forward, but I really played like a power forward”
College basketball appearance was a must for Edwards
Despite Edwards' success in high school basketball, he needed time to improve, which is something many high school stars couldn't do when they went to the NBA straight from HS. For instance, Dwight Howard, who managed to average 25.0 points, 18.0 rebounds, and 8.1 blocks per game in his senior year of high school, needed time to adjust to the high-flying pace of NBA basketball - managing only 12.0 points per game in his rookie campaign.
Similarly, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, who averaged 31.1 and 25.2 points per game in different years of high school, respectively, also struggled to make an immediate impact in their rookie year.
On the other hand, Edwards' lone year at the University of Georgia provided him with valuable experience beyond averaging 19.1 points per game. That experience exposed him to tougher competition and pressured situations, preparing him for the NBA. As a result, when he arrived in the league in 2020, Edwards was able to leave a more profound impression - averaging 19.3 points per game in his rookie season and rising to even become the Minnesota Timberwolves' No. 1 option in his second season.
Related: Draymond Green on how the leadership dynamic works in Minnesota: "Anthony Edwards leans on Mike Conley a lot"
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