Philadelphia 76ers select VJ Edgecombe in 2025 NBA Draft

The professional basketball dream has come true for VJ Edgecombe. With the No. 3 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the former Baylor star guard was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers.

During his one season with the Bears in college, Edgecombe averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals in 32.7 minutes per game. Additionally, he posted 44/34/78 shooting splits on 11.5 field goal attempts, 4.6 3-point tries and 4.3 free throw trips per game. He was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors, as well.

It’s not exactly a surprise Edgecombe took to the college game like a fish to water. He was a star recruit. The now-former Baylor star played high school basketball at Long Island Lutheran (Nassau), where he was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

As he moves to the next level, Edgecombe will be expected to continue to grow and elevate into one of the best players in the NBA. After showcasing his skillset during his freshman season with Baylor, there’s no reason to think he can’t achieve that goal.

Time will tell what his ceiling is. Regardless, VJ Edgecombe will have a chance to not just be a good NBA player, but a great one, as he moves to the next level in this journey.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about VJ Edgecombe

Meanwhile, On3’s resident NBA Draft analyst James Fletcher III took a look at VJ Edgecombe. He’s excited about his potential, ranking him as a strong No. 4 on his big board.

“VJ Edgecombe comes into the NBA Draft as an intriguing wing prospect, brining great length for his size,” Fletcher III wrote. “Among the best two-way players in the class already, his lack of projection needed should intrigue plenty teams hoping he can keep his baseline value while adding to the flashes he has showed throughout his career of stardom.”

Additionally, Fletcher III is far from the only one enthusiastic at the idea of seeing Edgecombe in the NBA. RotoWire.com made projections for many of the top prospects, likening the former Baylor star to a myriad of more-than-serviceable players.

“Edgecombe’s prowess on defense and in transition are similar to Amen (6-foot-7, 200) and Ausar Thompson (6-6, 205), but the twins were taller and stronger coming into the league, while Edgecombe is a better shooter,” RotoWire.com wrote. “Jaden Ivey (6-4, 195) has a more comparable frame to Edgecombe, but Ivey had the higher offensive upside while Edgecombe is a better defender.

“Given his defensive skills, Edgecombe’s floor is similar to a defensive-minded guard like Iman Shumpert (6-5, 220), but his offensive potential is reminiscent of an early Dejounte Murray (6-4,180) or Derrick White (6-4, 190).”