NBA Draft: Atlanta native, UGA guard Anthony Edwards selected No. 1 overall

The highest NBA draft pick for any player to come out of the University of Georgia was Dominique Wilkins, who went No. 3 overall in the 1982 NBA Draft.

Anthony Edwards surpassed that record with the No. 1 selection to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft.

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Edwards grew up in Atlanta and played at Holy Spirit Prep School, where he became the nation’s top-ranked high school basketball player.

He decided to stay close to home when he chose UGA over offers from Florida State, Kentucky and North Carolina. Edwards played just one season in Athens and at 19-years-old, he is one of the youngest players in the draft.

But scouts love his athleticism and all-around skills. Edwards is 6 foot 5, 225 pounds and has the potential to be a lockdown defender and fantastic 3-point shooter.

The pandemic forced the NBA Draft to go virtual this year, so Edwards celebrated his selection at home in Atlanta with family and friends.

As his name was called, Edwards sat between photographs of his late mother and grandmother, who both died of cancer in recent years.

“As far as just being excited and just being happy and ready to go and ready to work and ready to get there as soon as possible, those emotions were overwhelming with just my mother and grandmother being there,” Edwards said. “I mean, it was just a dream come true and just a blessing.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Holy Spirit Prep's Anthony Edwards: Montlick & Associates Athlete of the Week Edwards was a standout at Holy Spirit Prep before Minnesota selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.