How Anthony Edwards is handling the spotlight in his freshman season at Georgia
Imagine being 18 years old. The first time away from home, the adjustment to college classes, fitting in socially and academically — it’s all part of the life adjustment that can cause feelings of stress and pressure.
Georgia freshman guard Anthony Edwards is feeling all of that, and then some. He’s also under the spotlight of being dubbed the savior of Bulldog basketball, a phenomenal talent projected to be a top-five selection in the upcoming NBA Draft.
That’s a lot on the plate of a guy who’s supposed to be a senior in high school. Head coach Tom Crean knows there’s virtually no one in the program’s history, save for legend Dominique Wilkins, who can directly relate to the position Edwards is in.
“Nobody’s going through that,” Crean said. “I don’t think there’s any way to. Nobody can prepare him for that. I try. I’ve been through some of that, but it’s not like that.”
There are eight other freshmen on the Georgia team. However, none of them came into the program with even remotely near the fanfare of Edwards, originally a 2020 recruit who reclassified and signed in UGA’s 2019 class.
The notoriety hasn’t been lost on the other Bulldogs. Senior guard Jordan Harris said he makes it a habit to check in with Edwards, making sure he’s handling the pressure OK.
“I am here to talk to him if he needs it like a big brother,” Harris said. “I am shocked at the way he deals with it because it is a lot for him. He deals with it pretty well.”
Graduate transfer guard Donnell Gresham is also there for Edwards. He’s roomed with the freshman on several road trips, including the several days the team spent in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational.
He said Edwards is more of a private person and doesn’t open up much, but he’s come to Gresham for advice every now and then.
“Once he feels like he can trust you, he’ll open up to you,” Harris said. “I think I have his trust. He tells me a lot of stuff. He’s real open with me, but he’s not a person that’ll go up in front of a 300-student classroom and be comfortable speaking.”
It’s understandable why Edwards eventually feels the need to open up. He’s 21 games into his freshman season and the focal point of every defensive gameplan the Bulldogs run up against.
He’s averaging 19.3 points per game on the season, 20.9 in conference play, and he’s making just under 41 percent of his shot attempts. However, he’s shot 50 percent in a game just once in SEC play and has struggled at times with his jumpshot.
On the other hand, his two most recent games have been two of his best. He put up 23 points at Missouri and followed that up with a 29-point outburst in a win over Texas A&M, scoring 20 in the second half to carry his team to a win.
“It’s not that complicated at times,” Crean said. “The rim is there, go get it. If the shot is there, take it. The next pass is there, make it. Just really for him, sustaining intensity and concentration longer and just continuing to play harder longer.”
Crean’s observations make sense. After all, Edwards is just 18. At this time last year, he was dominating the high school circuit.
That brings up the question: Is it fair to put this much pressure on a college freshman, regardless of his talent?
Harris doesn’t think so. However, he recognizes that’s the spot Edwards has put himself in as one of the most talented players in college basketball.
“He is a great player and that’s just what comes with it,” Harris said. “Every great player goes through it, no matter what age you are. It kind of sucks, but he’s built for it.”
This story was originally published February 1, 2020 at 5:00 AM.