NBA draft prospect V.J. Edgecombe talks about playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Coach Charles Lee's defensive focus, and his journey to the playoffs. By FOOTAGE BY ROD BOONE| PRODUCED BY DIAMOND VENCES
V.J. Edgecombe plopped down at the table with a card bearing his name inside a conference room filled with a host of other NBA Draft hopefuls, smiled and began soaking up every single second of the experience.
“This feels great,” the Baylor prospect said Wednesday. “It’s exciting to be here. I’m excited to just go through all the tests and stuff, see how everything goes in the interview with teams, just get to know people. It’s been a blessing.”
Edgecombe has spent the better part of the past few days participating in drills and meeting with prospective employers at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, the latest step on a possible fast path to Charlotte.
The 19-year-old is already being linked to the Hornets in many mocks and a league source on one team with a top 10 selection in the June draft strongly believes he’s the player Charlotte’s president of basketball operations will eventually take off the board at No. 4 overall — once things get started with the Dallas Mavericks selecting Duke’s Cooper Flagg.
A portion of Edgecombe is still catching his breath from Monday’s wacky Draft lottery.
“It was a crazy lottery,” Edgecombe said. “We were not expecting that, but like I said it’s huge, the odds. You never know what can happen. It’s called the lottery for a reason. You never know what happens. So, it was just super exciting to be a part of, just to really sit there and realize what’s going on. You only see it on the TV, so just being there in person, it feels good.”
VJ Edgecombe (7) celebrates during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center. Zachary Taft USA TODAY NETWORK
Edgecombe’s measurables aren’t too shabby, either.
He recorded a mark of 38 1/2 on the max vertical leap, posting the highest out of his group and even beating out Flagg, who recorded a mark of 35 1/2.
A native of the Bahamas who played his high school ball at Long Island Lutheran in New York, Edgecombe averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a freshman this past season. Offensively, he’s a work in progress, shooting 43.6% from the floor and 34% from 3-point range.
The other side of the ball is a different story, though. He’s known mostly for his defensive effort and isn’t the type to back down from a challenge.
“I feel like I’m an elite defender but also have a ways to go,” Edgecombe said. “I’m willing to play defense with all my heart. I know if there is anything I can do on the floor, my attack plan is guarding and that’s something I’m ready to do for sure.”
Those words have to be music to the ears of Charles Lee. The Hornets coach continuously emphasizes the importance of defense and it’s one of his non-negotiables and that falls right in line with Edgecombe’s mentality, meaning he has the Hornets’ DNA the organization is seeking.
“Yeah, I mean, defense is a key thing about basketball,” Edgecombe said. “You got to play both sides of the floor, and you know that means a lot. When everyone’s bought in on defense, that means a lot.
“So whatever happens, you know, just truly grateful.”
May 13, 2025; Chicago, Il, USA; Ace Bailey (21) and Tre Johnson (56) participate in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images David Banks-Imagn Images
Tre Johnson
Along with Edgecombe, the Hornets could have their eyes on another player who did his thing in the Lone Star State in 2024-25.
Texas guard Tre Johnson said Charlotte was among the five teams he met with so far at the combine. Hovering at 6-foot-6, he possesses solid height for his position and the 19.9 points power game he averaged as a freshman proved he can fill it up with the best of them in his class.
His scoring would be a boost for the Hornets.
Tre Johnson speaks to the media at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Roderick Boone roboone@charlotteobserver.com
“It’s a young roster, a young group,” Johnson said of Charlotte. “It’s constantly changing and just watching the team, they are trying to build.”
And he’s confident he’d fit easily.
“A good shooter, a good scorer,” Johnson said, “a compliment to the two good guards, with guys that want to win, a good core.”
Johnson boasts a 6-10 wingspan and is adept at creating his own shot. But perhaps most importantly, he’s learned to adjust on the fly much quicker.
“I feel like when I was younger, especially the way I was thinking when I was younger, I really wasn’t thinking about this type of shot and the shots that have missed before, what the flow of the game has been for me. When I was younger, I’m just playing and taking whatever shot felt right.”
Not anymore.
“Now, in the game I’m thinking, ‘I just missed this shot from over there, maybe I need to switch it up. I’ve missed two jump shots, maybe I need to switch it up to try to get something else to the rim.’ And just things like that. So, me thinking about each shot I’m taking and making sure I’m taking the best shot I can possibly take and stay efficient.”
His prowess on the defensive end has to get better and he knows it.
“Being a two-way player in the NBA is going to be hard just because it’s the best players in the world. But (it’s) just being able to do that, and pass, and playmake and make other guys around me (better) and then have sort of a leadership role.”
Ace Bailey
Another player on the Hornets’ radar is Ace Bailey.
However, it’s unlikely the Rutgers product will be available at No.4 because there are already rumblings the Philadelphia 76ers like him and will take him third overall, one spot ahead of the Hornets.
Bailey, who was the highest-ranked recruit in Scarlet Knights basketball history, can play all five positions, making him unique. He has tantalizing offensive and defensive skill sets, similar to someone on the Hornets’ roster he’s somewhat familiar with after meeting him at a basketball camp in Wichita, Kansas nearly five years ago: Brandon Miller.
Ace Bailey speaks to the media at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Roderick Boone roboone@charlotteobserver.com
“(We’re) both 6-9, both can handle the ball, both can get to the rim, both can dunk,” Bailey said. “Both are athletic, both of us can create our own shots. We can see the floor, handle the ball good.”
The possibility of playing alongside Miller and LaMelo Ball is intriguing.
“B. Miller my dog, that would be good,” Bailey said. “All three young guys, I feel like me and B. Miler do the same thing. So, guarding two of the same people on the court is hard to guard. So, B. Miller, that’d be tough. And LaMelo. His activity, his shot creation, just all of it.”
Bailey is also a playmaker, which he expects will aid him greatly at the next level.
“It’s going to help a lot,” Bailey said. “It’s going to create for others and also for me passing the ball, creating shots, getting me open myself and then putting other people in good positions.”
The Charlotte Observer
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly. Support my work with a digital subscription