Villanova? Kansas? Kentucky? Auburn? Imhotep star Justin Edwards weighs his college options.

Less than a week after Kansas topped North Carolina in the national championship game, the Jayhawks extended an offer to five-star recruit Justin Edwards. Bill Self’s program is the most recent blue blood to enter the recruiting race for Edwards, the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania’s class of 2023.

The Imhotep Charter star has been steadily rising through the recruiting ranks since his impressive 2021 summer with Team Final on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit. While playing up with Team Final’s 17U squad, Edwards competed with players like Duke signee Dereck Lively II and University of Memphis center Jalen Duren. It was during Team Final’s Peach Jam championship run that Edwards made the jump from well-known local player to blue-chip prospect.

With offers from the likes of Kentucky, Villanova, Auburn, and now Kansas, the 6-foot-7 wing has garnered interest from almost every major program. It’s been a fast process for Edwards, who still remembers the early moments of doubt he had as a young high school player.

“It’s been crazy because it doesn’t feel like that long ago,” Edwards said. “Ninth grade, I felt like I wasn’t good enough to get offers. Now I’m one of the top players in the country, and I have almost every offer you could think of.”

One of Edwards’ biggest suitors has been Kentucky coach John Calipari. During his official visit to Big Blue Nation last November, Edwards received an offer. Since offering the Imhotep standout, Kentucky has continued to express interest in Edwards. Members of the Wildcats’ staff were in attendance for Imhotep’s PIAA Class 5A state championship victory, and Calipari was in attendance for Edwards’ double-double performance on day two of EYBL Orlando.

Part of what has drawn Edwards to Kentucky is the basketball culture he experienced during his visit last fall.

“It’s a basketball state,” Edwards said. “Everybody from there supports basketball.”

» READ MORE: Imhotep’s Justin Edwards was impressed by Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation. Will the rising wing commit to his dream school?

Though a newcomer in Edwards’ recruitment, Kansas’ recent national championship gives it another selling point as well. Edwards is a winner, having won both a Peach Jam tournament and a state championship in the last year, and it’s likely he’ll look to continue that track record at the college level.

Edwards is also impressed by Kansas’ efforts to recruit him at a time when the Jayhawks have no shortage of roster options.

“They just won the national championship, and it’s crazy with the transfer portal and stuff,” Edwards said. “[With] how many older guys they can recruit, they chose to recruit a guy from high school.”

In addition to Kentucky and Kansas, several other schools have been on Edwards’ recruiting trail as of late. University of Connecticut assistant coach Tom Moore attended one of Edwards’ recent Team Final games, and after the Huskies were eliminated from March Madness last month, staff was in attendance for Imhotep’s PIAA semifinal victory over Chester. UConn gave Edwards an offer last June.

Tennessee and Villanova have also become players in Edwards’ recruitment. The Volunteers were one of the first schools to extend an offer to Edwards, and last month, Edwards took his first official visit to Tennessee. The Wildcats’ efforts were more recent, with Jay Wright having made Edwards an offer at the start of February.

In addition to communicating with the Wildcats’ staff, Edwards attended a matchup between Villanova and Big East rival St. John’s. Edwards’ biggest takeaway from his interactions with Villanova to date: The program prepares its players for the NBA as well as anyone.

Finding a program that fits Edwards’ style of play has also been a priority for the five-star athlete during his recruitment process.

“He’s trying to figure out where he sees himself — who’s been good with guys like him and being able to help them get better,” Imhotep coach Andre Noble said. “Justin does know he has to take the next step of getting better … he knows even when he goes to school, there’ll be another jump and another gap he needs to close.”

One school that has stood out in that regard has been Auburn and its use of Jabari Smith Jr. The freshman forward was the centerpiece for the program during its breakout 2021-2022 season and fills a similar role to the one Edwards envisions for himself.

“[I like] how they let Jabari Smith showcase his game,” Edwards said. “The way they use him is how Imhotep uses me, like being ‘the guy.’”

With Edwards’ AAU season underway, his recruitment will continue to heat up as more schools extend offers and others start to gain momentum. Edwards is set to narrow down his list of schools at some point in the next few weeks, but he has made it clear that he’s not putting too much focus into the noise that comes with recruiting.

“I’m always appreciating it,” Edwards said. “But I don’t really pay attention to it right now … I’m [playing] AAU now, and my goal is to win Peach Jam, so I’m focused on that right now.”

When Edwards does make his decision later this year, it will be all about fit and family atmosphere. His time at Imhotep and with Team Final has helped him appreciate relationships, and for Edwards, it’s all about trust both on and off the court.

“[In recruiting] it’s the same thing he prioritizes here: people,” Noble said. “He’s trying to figure out who he trusts the most and where he thinks he’s going to continue to develop. Relationships are big with Justin; our group is really tight between Team Final, his family, and his Imhotep family. I think he’s looking for something similar.”

Said Edwards: “I’m big on family atmosphere, how they welcome me, and how they’re going to use me, and how they’re going to let me learn from my mistakes.”