Anthony Edwards Proves He's a Star

COLUMBIA, SC - If there was any doubt about Anthony Edwards’ stock in the NBA Draft it is gone after tonight.

The Bulldogs’ star freshman did all he could do to top South Carolina in Cootlumbia, but the Dawgs fell 94-90 here in overtime. 

Edwards was spectacular. He had 36 points in the back-and-forth affair. Edwards hit threes. He dunked. He sent the game into overtime with back-to-back free throws with UGA down two. About all he couldn’t do was prevent officials from ruining what was the most-fun UGA game this calendar year. 

Officials seemed hell bent on determining the game - whistling a combined 55 fouls on both teams… often ticky-tack fouls that had Tom Crean and Frank Martin about to lose it. And unlike most games, Martin actually had reason to act like a crazy person on the sideline. 

It was ridiculous. 

But it was Edwards’ performance that was hard to miss, and there is no doubt that UGA will miss him this time next year. Edwards has been the lone constant on this team. Even with some of his bad games in league play, Edwards has been the reason to watch the Dawgs play.

He wowed the Coot crowd with his twirls and slashes. Even the mediocre garnet and black crowd that was full of Georgia haters were in awe. Excellence is hard to ignore. 

Edwards has changed Georgia basketball. It remains to be seen if UGA coach Tom Crean can take that change - the attention from a player will certainly be a lottery pick, and is playing like he should be the No. 1 overall pick - and do something with it moving forward. 

This year has been dissipating for UGA fans, but recruits see one thing over anything else: Crean is getting players to the NBA. In two seasons at UGA, Crean will have two players drafted in the NBA.

When is the last time that’s happened in Athens?

The winning will have to come. At 14-14, winning is certainly not here right now, so that’s been disappointing. Georgia really should have been better this season. With that said, Georgia is playing better now than it has nearly its entire SEC slate, and that does matter. 

But this program will miss Edwards, and his smile, but his talent will be most missed next winter.