2025 NBA Draft: VJ Edgecombe Scouting Report
Evaluating the Baylor and Bahamas prospect ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
DRAFT EVALUATION: Top 5-10 pick
LAST BIG BOARD: No. 4
NBA ROLE: Defense-first playmaker with on-ball upside
REMINDS ME OF: Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, Amen Thompson with way less advantage creation, Cason Wallace with more hops, Keon Johnson
RAW STATS1: 15 PTS, 5.6 REB (2o/3.6d), 3.2 AST to 1.9 TOV, 2.1 STL, 0.6 BLK, 2.5 PF in 32.7 MINS over 33 GAMES
ADVANCED STATS2: 10 BPM, 24.4 USG%, 55.4 TS%, 7.1 OREB%, 13.6 DREB%, 19 AST%, 15 TOV%, 1.7 A/TO, 3.8 STL%, 2.3 BLK%
Background:
Birthday: July 30, 2005
Height3: 6-foot-5 in shoes (at 2024 Nike Hoop Summit)
Wingspan: 6-foot-6
Standing reach: 8-foot-3½
Weight4: 180 pounds
Born in Bimini, Bahamas. Played at Gateway Christian Academy in the Bahamas. Returned to his hometown in mid-April of this year to host a basketball tournament and clinic.
Moved to the United States in the 9th grade. Spent two years at Victory International Institute (West Palm Beach, Florida). Played AAU ball with the South Florida Kings (later summer circuit action was with Austin Rivers SE Elite).
Edgecombe said: “I came to America to play basketball, knowing I’ve got to feed my family and all of that. That’s definitely helped me and the person that I am right now. Just work harder than everybody else. I don’t want to be in that [percentage] that don’t make it out. I want to be in the part that makes it out and sets the standard high and sets a path for all the younger kids behind me.”
Oct. 2021 scouting report from Keith Agran: “Was quite possibly the best overall player I saw all day and certainly among the best college prospects there, saw him this past summer with the South Florida Kings playing up on 16U and he was just as explosive and high-flying then as he was. Just get the ball somewhere up near the rim and Edgecombe will go and get it, is a slasher extraordinaire cutting up defenses, also showed off ample 3-pt shooting range when things slowed down and can guard the entire floor, has big-time, high D1 potential.”
Transferred to Long Island Lutheran — “LuHi” — for his junior year of high school. As a junior at LuHi, named Gatorade Player of the Year in New York while averaging 15.5 PTS, 5 REB, 2.4 AST, 2.1 STL, and 1.5 BLKs in 23 games.
In his senior year of high school, again named Gatorade Player of the Year in New York while averaging 17.3 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 2.3 STL, and 1.1 BLKs in 25 games. Was also selected for the McDonald’s All-American game and the Nike Hoop Summit.
Top 10 before choosing Baylor also featured Alabama, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Miami, UConn, St. John’s, and the G League Ignite.
Roommates with Rob Wright III at Baylor: “He’s just funny. Always doing the little things. He’s always bringing me waters, because I’m probably a little lazy when it comes to that, bringing them upstairs. … And then, anytime I need something or I forgot something at the gym, he’ll grab it for me. He’s always looking out, and that’s just who he is as a person.”
Played for the Bahamas national team at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament as an 18-year-old. Averaged 16.5 PTS, 5.5 REB (3.5o/2d), 3.8 AST to 2.3 TOV, 2 STL, 0.5 BLK in 27.5 MINS over 4 games against Finland, Poland, Lebanon, and Spain.
Has previously compared himself to Jimmy Butler.
Takeaway:
VJ Edgecombe’s intersection of elite athleticism (he will be one of the best vertical athletes in the NBA), constant two-way production with patterns of growth over time across multiple levels, on-ball flashes, reliable motor, and high defensive floor make him a top 5 and, I think at worst, top 10 pick in the 2025 draft class.
In a high end outcome, Edgecombe can be a top 3 player on a deep playoff team. Think Russell Westbrook or Amen Thompson (with less handles). In a median outcome, the Baylor prospect is a defense-first, off-ball guard who primarily scores in transition and out of catch-and-shoots. Something closer to a version of Victor Oladipo or, more recently, Cason Wallace (with way more explosion).
VJ’s lowest end scenario sees the Bahamian swingman not developing his finishing, ballhandling, and maybe shooting enough to be a guard, while also lacking the size and length to truly be a wing. That would resemble Keon Johnson, so sitting at the end of the bench or even spending some time in the G League while searching for a home in the NBA.
Defensively, the key for Edgecombe is how he leverages his first step and hand-to-eye coordination to offset his lack of length. He is great at creating two-way events, such as when he jumps the passing lanes and finishes with a highlight reel dunk. VJ can also get blocks from the help side and push the tempo, although I want to see him improve as an outlet passer, as well. The defensive playmaking pops most off-ball, where he can track plays and rapidly shoot the gap. He’s capable on-ball, but will need more development there.
On offense, Edgecombe’s swing skill is his finishing — which probably isn’t what you would expect for a prospect of his athleticism. Edgecombe puts pressure on his defender with his first step, but not on the rim. He lacks efficiency at the basket, especially with his layups, where I worry about his touch despite his absurd hang time and compact frame.
I think that Edgecombe be fine as a shooter, at least off the catch. He has always been a decent shooter, but still has some improvements to make. It gets dicier off the dribble, with some enticing flashes across all levels and some overall improvement, but not enough consistency. VJ can’t really separate off the dribble right now. This will also be key for him, particularly if he is to one day play as more of a 1-guard, but really in general as to not limit his ceiling.
Edgecombe is a score-first player who doesn’t make advanced passing reads, but he can move the ball. The key will be maximizing his upside in drive and kick situations, even if that means hitting the strong side precisely or making the simple drop-off. VJ doesn’t need to hit home run passes, and he’s already solid at limiting his turnovers. That said, the Baylor prospect doesn’t manipulate defenses and needs to read the second line of defense better. He mostly depends on his athleticism to facilitate. Edgecombe can make some easy reads in empty side situations, where he is dangerous as a scorer if spotting an entire lane to drive in a straight line.
Offense:
Human highlight reel in transition. Will throw down some hyper-athletic dunks, often after getting a stock.
Strong positional rebounding allows him to be a grab-and-go threat. 5.6 REB (2o/3.6d) per game with a 13.6 DREB% and 7.1 OREB% is solid.
Powerful leaper off one or both feet. Likes to take off from the left low block and finish above the rim.
Also very effective using his speed to run the floor and finish plays. Will get easy points in transition. Outlet passers will find him.
Needs to keep improving at changing speeds and direction. Can be a bit one-note, full throttle right now. Some flashes, but generally goes in a straight line and mixes in a floatover/high gather or maybe a eurostep right at the end.
Finishing, especially his half-court layups, is his swing skill. Does not leverage his athleticism at the basket. Basic handle which also needs to be tighter does not break defenders down. Will cause issues against set defenses and can move him off-ball.
53.8 FG% (91/169) at the rim this season. Goes down to 48.9% (43/88) in the half-court.
44.5% (57/128, 0.89 PPS) on lay-ups for the season, which drops to 44.2% (34/77) in the half-court.
Awesome run and jump athlete, but measurements are meh. 6-foot-6 wingspan can hinder finishing.
Can he make convert at the rim when he's not dunking? 9 dunks in the half-court out of his 33 total. Lacks soft touch from close range. Missed bunnies.
Important to consider that on-court context at Baylor was not ideal with a severe lack of spacing, especially in the paint. Will likely have a lot more room to operate with in the NBA. Rim could be walled off by own teammates.
Left hand needs to improve. He’ll drive left (more right this season, actually), but almost always wants to finish with his right hand, even when on left side of the floor. One-handedness makes it harder to play against length.
Tries to avoid contact too often, which is probably because of his very good body control. Has the tools to draw more fouls. Struggles to finish vs. verticality if he tries to go through the defender, rather than extend around.
0.01 FTA/FGA in the half-court is very low when considering his tools and comparing to other ballhandlers. Leaving points on the table.
Needs to get better at slowing down still. Working on it in-gym, but those in-game reps aren’t quite there. I like the flashes playing off two feet.
Can he turn to a runner more often? 46.9 FG% (15/32) for the season, so slightly less than one attempt per game. Must keep adding an in-between game if he’s going to struggle with his finishing.
Hard to not be enticed by tools and believe he can turn his finishing around. Will have the first step on most defenders, and also on bigs on switches.
Creates constant paint touches and advantages. Improvements to handle, finishing, and passing can really unlock upside.
Optimistic about his spot-up shooting. Solid numbers with encouraging tape. Needs to reliably make his easier looks out of the corners and wings.
36.3 3P% (45/124) on catch-and-shoot threes. 46.7 3P% (21/45) on ‘Unguarded’ threes means defenses can’t leave him wide open.
30.4 3P% (24/79) ‘Guarded’ shows that he needs to raise his consistency and versatility as an outside shooter. Some flashes of attempting movement threes this season. Not totally fluid, rushes footwork and release vs. contests.
Important for his floor. Ideally raises volume even more (4.6 threes per game, 8.7 per 100).
Free throw history is encouraging, including 78.2 FT% (111/142) at Baylor. With the Bahamas national team, 81.3 FT% (13/16) in 4 GP. At the Adidas Eurocamp, 84.6 FT% (11/13 and 33.3 3P% [5/15]).
Scarce pull-up flashes across all levels, but still very much a work in progress. Shot 20 3P% (6/30) on off-dribble threes and 31.8 FG% (7/22) on off-dribble twos.
Will need to prove himself as a pull-up shooter at the next level. Defenses will go under and dare him to shoot.
Jumper is okay and I have no huge concerns, but maybe too mechanical. Really squares shoulders. Doesn’t look very fluid or easy to flow into. Can have a pronounced pause on his stepback.
Needs to keep adding turnaround jumper as counter to his drives.
Didn’t mind taking shots late in the shotclock, which likely hurt his percentages (10 catch-and-shoots, 22 off-dribble jumpers with ≤4 seconds).
Dangerous off the catch. If he’s knocking down his catch-and-shoots, will attack closeouts explosively within 1-2 dribbles into dunks and extensions. Same improvements to his finishing apply, although he can OREB his own misses.
Prefers to go left when he attacks off the catch. Very rarely, can throw in a hard spin right. Can he add more craft? A more consistent hesi?
Used coming off hand-offs and screens at Baylor. Can turn the corner immediately, instead of having to break down his man.
Will probably be used more as a cutter in the NBA. Can finish lobs from the dunker or flying in from the corner. First step beats perimeter defenders.
Can also mean stampeding. Sometimes did this after screening.
Touch is a bit weird because he actually makes some tough shots falling away or flipping in really high-elevation layups.
Can use shoulder to create space with his body, but needs to do this more. Too intent on using body control to avoid defenders.
Assertive rebounder on both ends. Hang time and motor is apparent on the glass.
Comes up with highlight tip dunks. Stays active with tip-ins and tap-outs. Leaps above bigger defenders while tracking misses. Pursues beyond his area.
If he is going to get more point guard reps, needs to improve his second line manipulation as a passer. Focus is on beating his man, mostly with the help of a screen, but decision-making after that fluctuates.
Drive and kick game sets the tone for his facilitating. Playmaking is reliant on his first step and athleticism. Strong side reads will exist for him.
Makes few, and simple, pick-and-roll reads. Solid with an empty side. Can execute the easy ball reversal for pick-and-pops.
Turnovers probably have more to do with his handle than his passing reads. Can lose control when he gets downhill. That’s when his accuracy suffers. Basic handle that needs to be tighter gets stripped vs. digs.
Needs to be patient against two on the ball, and when reading the nail defender or extra help. Can still improve at leveraging his downhill athleticism to create for his teammates. Can be more consistent at using an escape dribble when blitzed/trapped/pressed.
Defense:
Two-way sequences.
Shoots the gap with his first step. Ballhandlers might not realize he’s there until he decides to suddenly shrink the floor to disrupt their handle or pass.
Solid instincts to sink off-ball. Will make an effort to help the helper.
Chasedown blocks.
blocks helping.
POA.
Can absorb drives with his chest against guards and smaller wings. Upper body is compact and decently strong, but 180 pounds needs to go up.
Can also give up the lane against ballhandlers, though. Hips are a little high. Probably does not get super low to the ground unless he makes a concerted effort. Angles he takes with his body are improvable. That’s teachable. Has enough tools.
Blocking pull-ups
Low man and Size.
Slightly reckless. Mostly on blocks. Sometimes rebounds. Like most college freshmen, can be a little jumpy but not usually not overeager to make a play.
My preseason written and video scouting reports on Edgecombe can be found below.
My July 2023 scouting report on Edgecombe: “Arguably the top long-term prospect at this camp. The Bahamas native is going into his senior year of high school, but he’s already an elite athlete who turns the corner and beats defenders off the dribble easily. One coach in the gym put him on the same level [athletically] as Jalen Green. Most of the time, it feels like Edgecombe is gliding past defenders on the court. However, because his athletic tools are so difficult to contain, he can get out of control from time-to-time and turn the ball over or commit offensive fouls. Edgecombe can also create his own shot from two and three — and has real range on his jumper. It can be slightly mechanical at times since he really squares his shoulders, but I have no real concerns and he’s skilled enough to break defenders down off the dribble and pull-up.”
Via Bart Torvik
Height, wingspan, standing reach are from 2024 Nike Hoop Summit