With a strong performance at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine this week, many are of the belief that Bahamian basketball standout Valdez ‘VJ’ Edgecombe has confirmed his prospective position as a top five pick in next month’s draft.
The Bahamian star earned top marks in vertical leap, speed, agility, shooting and athleticism. He is well-balanced offensively and defensively, making him one of the top two-way players in the draft. He is ready to prove himself in the big leagues.
The Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz, in that order, own the top five picks in the draft, as revealed by the draft lottery on Monday, and it seems to be a safe bet to say that the Bahamian guard will end somewhere between those destinations.
The Hornets, in particular, have expressed significant interest at number four.
“I know the Charlotte Hornets. I know about the team, the roster, everything that’s going on over there,” said Edgecombe to reporters at the draft combine on Thursday. “I am grateful for the opportunity just to be recognized by them in the top four or top five picks.”
Edgecombe, 19, is a 6’5” athletic wing player. He started 29 of 29 games for the Baylor University Bears this season, leading the Bears in minutes played at 32.7 per game, and was one of the more dynamic players in division one basketball in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Edgecombe averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range in his only season in a Bears uniform. He finished second on the team in scoring and assists, and led the team in steals. He led all freshmen in the Big 12 Conference in scoring and finished third among freshmen in rebounds and assists.
Edgecombe had a career-high 30 points in a game against Kansas State University in January, erupting for 20 of those points in the second half. He was named Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year and also earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team and All-Big 12 Second Team selections.
Defensively, the Bahamian had a rating of 102.5 and a defensive box plus-minus of plus 4.3. The NBA Draft top five prospect said he wants to dispel a narrative about rookies not being able to guard a top offensive player effectively.
“Most rookies, they be like, can’t guard. ... I want to change that dynamic, change that for sure. I just want to go out there and guard and impact the floor,” he said.
It’s likely that the Mavericks will take Duke University star Cooper Flagg with the top pick, but after a strong showing this week, Edgecombe could realistically end up anywhere in the top five.
The Bahamian remains humble about his draft stock, which only got better during the combine. He went into his freshman season as the number three prospect in the ESPN Class of 2024 as a consensus five-star recruit out of Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville, New York, and certainly lived up that billing.
The NBA Draft Combine continues until Sunday at the Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The 2025 NBA Draft is set for June 25-26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Edgecombe is thankful just to be in the conversation and hopes to hear his name called early.