The likely No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft is an inefficient shooting guard whose college team went 5-13 in conference play.

This says more about the 2020 draft class than it does about Georgia freshman Anthony Edwards, who, after arriving on campus as the most-hyped recruit in school history, shot 40.2% from the field (29.4% from 3-point range) while averaging nearly as many turnovers (2.7) as assists (2.8). If Edwards is indeed the top selection, he’ll be the most flawed prospect to hear his name called first since Anthony Bennett in 2013.

The biggest reason Edwards sits atop most teams’ draft boards is that scouts are struggling to find anyone better. As one Western Conference executive told The Chronicle, “There isn’t a single sure thing this year. Every one of these guys has major weaknesses.”

But even down drafts boast future All-Stars and, according to multiple league sources, the Warriors believe Edwards has that type of potential.

At 6-foot-5, 225 pounds with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and a 42-inch vertical leap, he should be able to handle the physical rigors of the NBA as a rookie. His size and lateral quickness give him a chance to become an effective defender at the next level. Even if Edwards doesn’t develop a reliable jump shot, he could be a high-end starter.

That’s about as low-risk of an investment as the Warriors will find in this draft. In recent months, Golden State’s scouts watched every minute of video from Edwards’ freshman season — as well as video from his high school and AAU careers. The consensus, according to one league source, was that the Warriors should take him if they land the No. 1 pick and decide not to trade down.

Though scouts have reservations about Edwards’ motor and shot selection, many of his issues at Georgia were a product of the situation. Edwards, who reclassified from the 2020 class to the 2019 class before his final high school season, played his entire freshman year with the Bulldogs as an 18-year-old and won’t turn 19 until August.

Given that he attended a prep school in Atlanta that was far from a basketball powerhouse and didn’t play on the most competitive AAU circuit, Edwards joined Georgia with relatively little on-court schooling. It didn’t help that, with no other players nearly as talented as Edwards, head coach Tom Crean had to give him tons of leeway — even as mistakes mounted.

Edwards took 32% of available shots for a team that wouldn’t have come close to earning a berth in the NIT, let alone the NCAA Tournament, had the coronavirus pandemic not shut down college basketball’s postseason. Though his highlight reel was as impressive as anyone’s in the country, he committed more silly turnovers, attempted more questionable jumpers and showed more indifference than scouts want to see from a potential No. 1 pick.

Instead of using his strength and speed to dunk on defenders, Edwards often dribbled until the shot clock reached single digits and attempted contested 18-footers. On defense, he tended to wander back aimlessly in transition, not crossing half court until well after his slower teammates.

Perhaps such problems should have been expected from an 18-year-old thrust into a leading role for an SEC program. But as the season progressed, Edwards made important strides — even if they didn’t show up in the box score.

As freshman guard Sahvir Wheeler took on more of a playmaking role, Edwards became more comfortable off the ball, making backdoor cuts and setting screens. Though he still settled for too many midrange jumpers, he was more aggressive getting to the rim.

His defense also offered reasons for optimism. Despite regular lapses in focus, Edwards finished the season rated in the 86th percentile as a one-on-one defender in spot-up situations, according to Synergy Sports. Off of screens, he ranked in the 95th percentile.

Per a league source, the Warriors are willing to stomach Edwards’ uglier college stats because most of his shortcomings are fixable. Unlike most league-worst teams, which tend to be desperate for a franchise savior, Golden State is well-positioned to return to contention next season with a core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins.

If the Warriors win next month’s lottery and take Edwards with the No. 1 pick, they’ll have the luxury of easing him into the rotation. Practices and video sessions would be spent teaching him how to see the floor and read situations. Should Edwards play with less than maximum effort, he’d probably need only one expletive-filled tirade from Green to learn his lesson.

Edwards’ physical gifts alone will earn him NBA minutes next season, but the Warriors wouldn’t use a top selection on him with designs of him becoming merely a helpful cog. Golden State’s hope would be that, by the time Curry, Thompson and Green retire or decline in production, Edwards can become the face of the franchise.

If recent history is any indicator, his poor shooting and high turnover numbers at Georgia shouldn’t prevent him from blossoming into a featured NBA role. Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and Washington’s Bradley Beal entered the league with many of the same knocks as Edwards. Now, Mitchell and Beal are All-Stars often mentioned as Edwards’ best-case scenarios.

In coming weeks, draft analysts will pass the shelter-in-place time by laying out each of his flaws in detail. But no amount of nitpicking will change the fact that, in lieu of satisfying alternatives, Edwards would be the Warriors’ best option at No. 1.

Golden State knows this, which is why it isn’t upset that the coronavirus crisis will keep Edwards from working out at Chase Center. Figuring out whether an inefficient shooting guard on a bad college team is worthy of the top pick has been one of the scouting department’s top priorities for more than five months.

Connor Letourneau covers the Warriors for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron