The part of Anthony Edwards’ story that takes place off the court, in a classroom, in between a difficult grade report and a decision that changes his life, is one that is never shared. Most people are familiar with him as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ electric shooting guard, the first overall pick, and the player who silences NBA arenas in the middle of a dribble. However, Atlanta, Georgia’s schools quietly and consciously laid the groundwork for that career.
Edwards started playing basketball in high school at Atlanta’s Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School. As a four-star prospect with a clear future for anyone who saw him play, he was already making waves in recruiting circles. However, basketball was insufficient to keep him going. He transferred to Holy Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta at the beginning of January 2017, a decision that felt more academic than athletic.
He gave a simple explanation that was almost unbelievably honest for a teenager. He claimed that Holy Spirit Prep provided better academic support and smaller class sizes. That contains something worthwhile to sit with. This young player, who was already regarded as one of the best in the nation, decided to attend a particular school because it could improve his learning rather than pursuing greater attention. People tend to underestimate the rarity of such self-awareness.
He was reclassified to the 2020 graduating class as part of the transfer, which caused a one-year delay. In some ways, it was a risk. Timelines for hiring change. Rankings are subject to change. A prospect’s momentum may be lost after a year out of the spotlight. Edwards, however, appeared to make good use of the time. His academic performance improved to the point where, by November 2018, he was reclassified to the 2019 class. That leap propelled him to the top of 247Sports’ Top247 rankings in terms of recruiting. In some way, the academic diversion had sped things up.
He gained more from his final year at Holy Spirit Prep than just recognition and rankings. With an average of 29 points, nine rebounds, and two assists per game, he was already being compared to prospects who were much older. He participated in the McDonald’s All-American Game and was named to the USA Today All-USA first team. Beneath it all, however, was a student who, at the age of fifteen, had decided to take his education seriously enough to change schools.
Edwards made a commitment to the University of Georgia when it came time to select a college. It’s easy to forget that he majored in marketing, but it probably shouldn’t be. He wasn’t just aimlessly wandering around campus in anticipation of the draft. He enrolled, participated, and finished as one of the top scorers among first-year players nationwide, scoring 19.1 points per game during his freshman campaign, which led all Georgia freshmen. He was named SEC Freshman of the Year and selected to the second team of the SEC.
He entered the 2020 NBA draft after just one season, and the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him first overall. In retrospect, it’s the kind of conclusion that makes everything seem inevitable. It wasn’t. A struggling student, a school transfer, a reclassification, and a single year of college were among the times that could have gone differently. Anthony Edwards’ story’s educational component is not an afterthought. It’s most likely nearer the entire thing’s spine.
Observing him now as a four-time NBA All-Star, it’s important to keep in mind that the version of himself that appeared on these courts was shaped, at least in part, by a quiet decision he made in Atlanta when he was still a teenager: that receiving a quality education was important.
