V. J. Edgecombe

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V. J. Edgecombe
Edgecombe in 2024
No. 77 – Philadelphia 76ers
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2005-07-30) July 30, 2005 (age 20)[1]
Bimini, The Bahamas
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeBaylor (2024–2025)
NBA draft2025: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Drafted byPhiladelphia 76ers
Playing career2025–present
Career history
2025–presentPhiladelphia 76ers
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Valdez Drexel "V. J." Edgecombe Jr. (born July 30, 2005) is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "The Generator", he played college basketball for the Baylor Bears. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class. Edgecombe was selected with the 3rd overall pick by the 76ers in the 2025 NBA draft.[2]

Early life and high school career

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Edgecombe was born and spent his childhood in Bimini, The Bahamas.[3][4] Edgecombe grew up in the Abaco Islands of The Bahamas, where he first played basketball in local youth leagues. He participated in development camps organized by NBA player Buddy Hield, whom he later described as a mentor figure.[5]

Edgecombe described himself as "[coming] from nothing", living off a generator due to limited electricity.[6][7] He migrated to the United States when he was in ninth grade, originally settling in Florida.[8][9] He attended Victory International Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida for two years before transferring to Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville, New York as a boarding student.[10] He averaged 15.5 points, five rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game during his junior season as the Crusaders won the state championship.[11][12] Edgecombe was named the New York Gatorade Player of the Year and the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) Player of the Year at the end of the season.[13] As a senior, Edgecombe averaged 17.3 points, six rebounds, four assists, and 2.3 steals per game to lead the Crusaders to a 21–5 record. During his senior year, he was selected to play in the 2024 McDonald's All-American Boys Game.[14]

Recruiting

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Edgecombe was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class, according to major recruiting services.[15] He was originally rated 153rd in the composite ranking of 247Sports, but moved up to the top five following his performance in the Adidas 3SSB travel circuit as a junior.[16] On January 14, 2024, Edgecombe committed to playing college basketball for Baylor after considering offers from Duke and Kentucky.[17]

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
V. J. Edgecombe
SG 		Bimini, The Bahamas Long Island Lutheran (NY) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jan 14, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 5/5 stars   On3: 5/5 stars   ESPN: 5/5 stars   (96)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 4    247Sports: 5    On3: 4    ESPN: 3
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Baylor 2024 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • "2024 Baylor Bears Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

During his lone season at Baylor, Edgecombe drew consistent praise from head coach Scott Drew for his intensity and work ethic. Drew called him “one of the most disciplined and mature freshmen we’ve ever had” and credited his defensive mindset as a defining part of the team’s identity.[18]

According to the Baylor Lariat, Drew nicknamed him “The Edge” in practice and said his humility and self-motivation “set the tone for younger players.”[19]

Professional career

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Edgecombe was selected with the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA draft.[20]

In his NBA regular season debut on October 22, 2025, Edgecombe scored 34 points, pulled down seven rebounds and collected three assists to help the Sixers to a 117–116 win against the Boston Celtics. His 34 points were the most all-time in an NBA debut in Sixers franchise history, surpassing the previous record of 30 set by Allen Iverson, and the third-most all time in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain (43; 1959) and Frank Selvy (35; 1954). He also surpassed LeBron James' previous record (12) for the most points scored in a quarter in an NBA debut, with 14.[21][22][23]

On November 4, Edgecombe recorded his first career double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds in a 113–111 loss to the Chicago Bulls.[24]

National team career

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Edgecombe was named to the Bahamas national team for the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia.[25] Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in four games.[26] At the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Valencia), Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in four games, including 12 points, six rebounds and five assists in the final against Spain.[27] He opened the tournament with 20 points in a 96–85 win over Finland—drawing attention from Finnish media as an 18-year-old “surprise card”—and then top-scored with 21 points in a 90–81 victory over Poland, capped by a dagger three in the final minute.[28][29][30] Although limited by foul trouble in the final against Spain, Edgecombe made several key baskets and helped the Bahamas close the gap late in the game before ultimately falling short.[31] His teammates praised his poise despite his age. Buddy Hield said that Edgecombe was “elite and special… so electric, with all the intangibles,” while veteran guard Eric Gordon described him as “one of the most athletic and gifted young players in our game.”[32] Edgecombe later said that playing alongside NBA veterans such as Hield and Gordon “was a true confidence booster.”[33]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024–25 Baylor 33 33 32.7 .436 .340 .782 5.6 3.2 2.1 .6 15.0

References

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  1. ^ "V.J. Edgecombe". Real GM. RealGM, L.L.C. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Carlin, Ky (June 25, 2025). "Philadelphia 76ers NBA Draft live updates: Pick results, trade rumors". Sixers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  3. ^ Braziller, Zach (November 10, 2023). "Meet VJ Edgecombe, the five-star prospect St. John's is in the hunt for". New York Post. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Adderley, Taige (January 24, 2024). "Edgecombe Selected to McDonald's All American Game". Our News. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Supporting Bahamas Basketball: VJ Edgecombe takes the torch". Andscape. ESPN. July 10, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  6. ^ Levick, Noah (June 25, 2025). "Sixers take VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 in draft, add to group of young guards". NBC Sports Philadelphia.
  7. ^ "V.J. Edgecombe Emotional On Draft Night, 'Had No Electricity' Growing Up". TMZ. June 26, 2025.
  8. ^ Rowe, Adam (August 10, 2023). "VJ Edgecombe's journey from The Bahamas has him close to the top of the 2024 ranks". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "The Bahamas' Edge: VJ Edgecombe talks about time with the national team". FIBA. August 12, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025. : Edgecombe has said that leaving the Bahamas at age fifteen to pursue basketball in the United States was “one of the hardest but best decisions” of his life
  10. ^ Stock, Cristopher (July 6, 2023). "5-Star SF VJ Edgecombe thinks highly of Miami". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Baxley, Rodd (October 20, 2023). "Cooper Flagg, other Duke basketball recruits visit Blue Devils for Countdown to Craziness". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "Newsday's All-Long Island boys basketball first team 2023". Newsday. April 22, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Smart, Zach (April 6, 2023). "Big Ten Offer For LuHi Guard". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Edgecombe, Freeman selected for McDonald's All-American game". The Nassau Guardian. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Rowe, Adam (November 3, 2023). "Latest Intel on Five-Star G VJ Edgecombe as final official visit nears". 247Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  16. ^ Fisher, Chris (November 22, 2023). "John Calipari, staff visit top-5 prospect VJ Edgecombe". 247Sports. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  17. ^ Borzello, Jeff; Biancardi, Paul (January 14, 2024). "Baylor men's hoops lands top-five senior V.J. Edgecombe". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  18. ^ "Making History". Baylor Athletics. June 23, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "Ready for war: Star freshman VJ Edgecombe locks in for March Madness". Baylor Lariat. March 19, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  20. ^ "76ers select Baylor's VJ Edgecombe with No. 3 pick". ESPN.com. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  21. ^ Heyen, Billy (2025-10-23). "76ers' VJ Edgecombe scored most points in NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain in 1959 | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  22. ^ Capps, Kendall (October 22, 2025). "76ers rookie VJ Edgecombe's NBA debut turns heads, enters history books". ClutchPoints. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  23. ^ Salerno, Cameron (October 22, 2025). "76ers' VJ Edgecombe breaks records held by LeBron James, Allen Iverson in incredible NBA debut vs. Celtics". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  24. ^ "76ers' VJ Edgecombe: Posts first NBA double-double". CBS Sports. 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  25. ^ Taylor, Cody (July 2, 2024). "' He has shown serious flashes': VJ Edgecombe dazzles in Bahamas' win over Finland in Olympic qualifier". The Rookie Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "Valdez Edgecombe Jr". FIBA Olympic Qualifying. FIBA.
  27. ^ "The Bahamas' Edge: VJ Edgecombe talks about time with the national team". FIBA. August 12, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  28. ^ "Bahamas lock in to hold off Finland in opener". FIBA. July 2, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  29. ^ "Susijengille iso pettymys olympiakarsinnassa – Bahaman yllätyskortti oli 18-vuotias Edgecombe". Yle (in Finnish). July 2, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  30. ^ "Bahamas qualify for Semi-Finals, outlast Poland". FIBA. July 3, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  31. ^ "86–78: ¡España y Rudy vuelan de Valencia a París!". Federación Española de Baloncesto (in Spanish). July 7, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  32. ^ "Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe takes torch for Bahamas basketball". Andscape (ESPN). July 10, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  33. ^ "The Bahamas' Edge: VJ Edgecombe talks about time with the national team". FIBA. August 12, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
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