VJ Edgecombe is one of the top players in the 2025 NBA Draft and he is expected to have an immediate impact.
The 2025 NBA Draft is expected to be one of the deepest in recent memory, and outside of the consensus number one PickCooper Flag, there is plenty of talent throughout the first round. The Rutgers duo of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are just as close to the top as Maryland Center’s Derrick Queen.
Edgecombe was selected for the All-Big 12 team after his freshman season, but before that he had shined on the international stage. He played for the Bahamas in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, averaging 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and two steals in four games.
He was one of the best players on the Bahamas team, featuring Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon and Buddy Hield. He played against Finland, Poland, Lebanon and Spain, against established NBA players.
As he prepares for the 2025 draft, his name is approaching the top of all major draft boards.
- Age/Date of Birth: 19 (July 30, 2005)
- nationality: Bahamas
- Height/Weight: 6ft 5, 185lbs
- College: Baylor Bears
- Career statistics: 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steel, 43.6 fg%, 34.0 3pt%
- NCAA Tournament Statistics: 15.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steel, 45.0 fg%, 27.3 3pt%
- Best career: 30 points (opposed to Kansas), 10 rebounds (opposed to Kansas, Sam Houston, Oklahoma State), 7 assists (opposed to Sam Houston, Colorado)
- NBA comparison: Donovan Mitchell
Edgecombe is extremely smooth with the ball in hand, allowing you to attack all the way to the rim or stop at a dime to pull it up from midrange. He is very athletic and strong despite being on the short side due to his wings. It might be a position he puts in the slot, but he will do his best job as a slash guard.
His shooting in college wanted something, but he made 38.5% of the three-pointer in the Olympic qualifying tournament and shot 78.2% from the NCAA free throw line.
This means he has an Anthony Edwards adjutent thrashing and, if not elite, he has a maintainable shot from the deep. He could be a true three-level scorer, but this is not as common as most fans think.
His defense doesn’t cover multiple positions, but he’s the best in the ball that does the best job against small players. He may struggle with bigger wings, but we expect him to become a above average offensive point defender.
He can handle the ball well in his lane, but he cannot dance in isolation like James Harden or Damian Lillard Doe. He also isn’t the most efficient driver, but makes up for it with his ability to draw fouls. If he gets a friendly mouth, he could become a charity stripe fixture, but most rookies don’t benefit from doubt.
On the defensive side, he is a rather dangerous defender and doesn’t mind losing position to go after theft. In the NBA, experienced players will make him pay for it, but they hope he can quickly adapt to a higher level of talent.
Of course, his strengths and weaknesses sound like Russell Westbrook on his way to the Hall of Fame, but one of the busts of the bigger draft of the 2020s, and perhaps Scoot Henderson, who could only stay with James Wiseman.
Edgecombe fits best next to True Point Guard, and realistically he is drafted in the top five. That means he lands on a bad team.
The Toronto Raptors were able to combine him with Imanuel Quickly, RJ Barrett and Scotty Burns to give him a solid core on both sides of the court.
If Brooklyn’s net doesn’t get back with Come Thomas next season, Edgecom could be the punch they’ve been looking for since splitting the cores of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
Pasting him into a young, athletic lineup with Lamelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Tijanesa Row and the Charlotte Hornets’ Mussa Diabate also made up for exciting basketball, and if his defenses improved, he could make up for the ball’s shortcomings.
At worst, he is a high energy slash, and at best he appears as the face of the franchise’s draft.