“Situational Analysis” is a series of articles that seeks to examine the circumstances that most often influence an NBA prospect’s success. Each player will be scored on a scale from 1-10 in four different categories: NBA-specific skill(s), fatal flaw(s), collegiate/overseas/pre-NBA environment, and ideal NBA ecosystem.
VJ Edgecombe is a 19-year-old (20 on July 30) power guard from the Bahamas who averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists for the Baylor Bears. He is expected to be a top five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. NBADraft.net currently has him projected at No. 4.
NBA-Specific Skills
Ka-blammo!
That’s the only word that comes to mind when watching V.J. Edgecombe’s game tape. It works as a noun, verb, and adjective.
Noun: “V.J. Edgecombe is the human personification of ka-blammo.”
Verb: “V.J. Edgecombe really ka-blammoed on that fast break.”
Adjective: “V.J. Edgecombe is neither a point guard nor a shooting guard. Edgecombe is a ka-blammo guard.”
From a purely athletic standpoint, Edgecombe is without peer in this draft class. Only the Thompson twins in Houston/Detroit eclipse Edgecombe’s ka-blammoness in recent draft history. Edgecombe’s top gear is slightly faster than everyone else’s top gear. His two-foot leap is just a little higher, as is his one-foot leap. In a league where just about everyone is an athletic marvel, Edgecombe’s physical gifts are on another tier.
It might not sound like much, but those fractions of a second/inch where Edgecombe has the advantage are often what makes the difference between pretty good players and exceptional ones. Nobody talks about the climbing eighth-highest mountain; they talk about Everest. Only a few can climb it without an oxygen tank.
We’ve seen athletic marvels enter the NBA, but they don’t necessarily have the all-around skillset or the motor to back it up. Athleticism is darn near worthless if the player can’t dribble or doesn’t care about winning. The effort is there – and then some. If anything, the motor can run a little hot, but that’s one of those “good problems” to have in a draft prospect. It’s like a haircut – you can always take a little more off, but you can’t glue it back on.
Edgecombe is one of the rare lottery guard prospects who is much further along defensively than he is offensively. This isn’t to say he’s a subpar offensive player – far from it – it’s more to say that he has All-Defensive Team potential by the time he hits his rookie extension. He plays passing lanes like a safety, constantly turning lazy passes into fast-break opportunities. He also brings a bit of weakside rim protection and shot deterrence. Much like Josh Hart, it’s easy to envision Edgecombe pulling down nearly 10 rebounds a game, including those sky-high game-clinching boards that defy the laws of gravity.
Whichever team ends up with Edgecombe will be thrilled with his athleticism, intensity, versatility, and, well, edge.
On a scale from 1-10, Edgecombe’s athleticism rates at a 9.5.
Fatal Flaws
With great power comes great responsibility. Edgecombe can occasionally be a little too athletic for his own good. We’ve seen him careen out of control into the lane, hoping that an explosive-yet-wild double-clutch layup will bail him out. He can get a bit over-eager jumping for blocks or gambling for steals, putting him out of position when a simpler play would have been the correct one.
We know the jump shot looks nice when he’s set, steady, and open, but can he make that Anthony Edwards-level leap and harness his explosiveness into controlled, off-the-dribble three-pointers?
At this stage in his development, it seems like Edgecombe can get a little ahead of his skis. His otherworldly athleticism opens opportunities for mistakes that other players wouldn’t even be capable of making. If the finer points of basketball – those last-level nuances, hesitation dribbles, skip passes, and expert-level timing plays – start coming as naturally to him as a follow-up dunk in traffic, watch out. Right now, however, Edgecombe has a bit of work to do to bring his skill level and athletic level into harmony.
On a scale from 1 (not a concern) to 10 (serious hindrance), Edgecombe’s relatively raw offensive game rates at a 6.5.
Pre-NBA Setting
Edgecombe moved from the Bahamas to the U.S. as a ninth grader, bouncing between Florida and New York before earning serious accolades as a junior and senior, putting himself on the national recruiting map.
People had a lower awareness of Edgecombe’s game prior to blowing up on the Adidas circuit and showing incredible flashes during the Olympic qualifying tournament on a Bahamas squad that featured fellow NBA players Deandre Ayton and Buddy Hield. It’s one thing to overwhelm high schoolers with athleticism, but an extremely young Edgecombe proved he belonged on that upper tier during international play.
Edgecombe quickly became a consensus top recruiting prospect, eventually selecting Baylor over Duke, Kentucky, St. John’s, and all the other usual suspects. Edgecombe’s game fit in nicely into Scott Drew’s aggressive, pressure defense and he quickly became one of the squad’s go-to players. The Bears meandered through an up-and-down 20-15 campaign before falling to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Edgecombe, to nobody’s surprise, declared for the draft soon after.
On a scale from 1-10, Edgecombe’s pre-NBA career rates at a 7.5. He seems much more comfortable anytime he’s competing with/against other elite athletes.
Ideal NBA Ecosystem
Edgecombe’s athleticism, work ethic, and motor will fit on any squad, but in order for him to reach his ceiling, he will need time, patience, and top-level developmental coaching.
What is his ceiling? Some say Russell Westbrook, but we only get one of those per generation. I see a little bit of prime, pre-injury Victor Oladipo – the version who made an All-NBA team in Indiana. I also see Edgecombe perhaps replicating Jrue Holiday’s outstanding career – perennial winner, defensive menace, but can get a little loose with the ball if he is your primary creator.
Edgecombe obviously won’t get drafted ahead of Cooper Flagg. Would San Antonio roll the dice on him ahead of Dylan Harper? If the Spurs hadn’t already selected Stephon Castle, it’s possible, but Castle replicates much of what Edgecombe brings to the table. The Spurs need a bit more offensive polish in a backcourt companion, and Harper brings more polish than a bucket of Turtle Wax.
Edgecombe will likely end up either in Philadelphia, Charlotte, or a secret third team that is wowed by his athleticism and tenacity and is willing to trade up. Edgecombe is a tremendous fit with what Philly general manager Daryl Morey values in a prospect (think of that famous Shane Battier “No-Stats All-Star” piece from 2009), but would the Sixers use this pick to take another young guard on a team that already has Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain? Especially when we have no idea how many more healthy seasons (heck, games?) we’ll see from Joel Embiid and Paul George?
If Philly passes, there is no way he falls past Charlotte at No. 4. Honestly, it’s a terrific fit. Edgecombe does everything LaMelo Ball can’t/won’t do. Edgecombe slots so cleanly between Ball and Brandon Miller. Charles Lee is a wonderful, well-respected mentor and exactly the kind of young, energetic coach who will get the most out of Edgecombe – conversely, Edgecombe is precisely the kind of tireless maniac who Lee and his staff will love.
On a scale from 1-10, Edgecombe’s situational dependence rates at an 8. He will be a valuable player anywhere (a high-level role player at worst), but the right roster/coach fit is required for him to hit that All-Star tier.
