The Philadelphia 76ers made a high-impact selection in the 2025 NBA Draft Wednesday night, choosing V.J. Edgecombe, a promising guard from Baylor, with the No. 3 overall pick. The pick, originally acquired via a protected trade five years prior, represents a key piece in the Sixers’ strategy to blend championship contention with building for the future.
Edgecombe, a 19-year-old freshman standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 193 pounds, brings an explosive blend of athleticism and defensive intensity to Philadelphia. In his single collegiate season at Baylor, the Bahamas native averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He shot 43.6% from the field, 34% from three-point range, and 78.2% from the free-throw line, finishing second on the team in points and assists and third in rebounds.
Edgecombe’s journey to the NBA is particularly compelling. Growing up on the small island of Bimini in the Bahamas, often without consistent electricity or air conditioning, he developed his game on “hard sand” courts. He viewed an NBA career as a seemingly “crazy” dream from his home island but saw basketball as a path to significantly improve life for his family. His drafting makes him the highest pick from the Bahamas since Deandre Ayton in 2018 and serves as a message of hope for kids back home.
Before Baylor, Edgecombe was a highly-touted five-star recruit, earning McDonald’s All-American honors, New York Gatorade Player of the Year, and National Interscholastic Basketball Conference Player of the Year awards. At Baylor, he quickly made his mark, earning multiple accolades including Preseason and Postseason Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year and All-Big 12 Second Team honors. He also gained valuable experience competing for the Bahamian national team alongside NBA veterans like Buddy Hield and Deandre Ayton, averaging 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in four Olympic Qualifying Tournament games.
Immediate Impact: Defense and Athleticism
One of Edgecombe’s most highly praised attributes is his elite athleticism, which scouts noted immediately translates to the NBA level. His 38.5-inch maximum vertical leap at the NBA Draft Combine ranked among the top performers. This athleticism, combined with his defensive prowess, makes him an immediate fit for Coach Nick Nurse’s rotation.
Edgecombe is widely considered a plus defender at a young age. He’s described as a genuinely tremendous, disruptive force, capable of making opposing players’ lives miserable. His stats back this up, leading Baylor in steals and ranking third in blocks. Scouts believe he has the toughness and versatility to guard multiple positions effectively, from point guards to small forwards.
Beyond the physical tools, Edgecombe also impressed teams with his maturity and coachability. Described as a “super-mature kid,” he’s noted for his work ethic, punctuality, and willingness to learn – qualities that came naturally to him.
Offensive Profile and Long-Term Upside
While his defense and athleticism provide a high floor, Edgecombe’s offensive upside hinges on the development of his “swing skills,” primarily shooting consistency and advanced ball-handling. He showed significant in-season improvement at Baylor, particularly becoming more comfortable off the dribble and increasing his scoring average to over 17 points per game in his final 17 contests. He’s shown ability as a catch-and-shoot threat and is effective playing off the ball, utilizing cuts. Scouts also noted improvement in his jump shot mechanics since the season ended.
Edgecombe is also considered a good passer and possesses the intriguing aspiration to become a point guard. His ability to create advantages off the dribble at the NBA level will be key to unlocking his full potential. While acknowledging current skill deficits in areas like pull-up shooting and nuance in ball screens, evaluators believe his work ethic and NBA resources could lead to significant offensive growth. Some compare his ceiling to a hyper-athletic version of Gary Harris, a player who had a peak stretch averaging around 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists while receiving All-Defense votes.
Fit with the Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers’ selection of Edgecombe aligns with team president Daryl Morey’s stated goal of making the roster younger and more athletic, particularly after an injury-plagued 2023-24 season saw key players like Joel Embiid and Paul George miss significant time. Edgecombe joins a dynamic backcourt rotation alongside All-Star Tyrese Maxey and potentially last year’s first-round pick, Jared McCain (pending McCain’s situation).
This group offers complementary skill sets: Maxey’s dynamic scoring, Edgecombe’s defense and athleticism (qualities the Sixers have reportedly lacked), and McCain’s elite movement shooting. This combination is seen as a potentially seamless fit, capable of increasing the team’s pace and creating easy scoring opportunities through fast breaks and driving to the basket. Morey envisions Edgecombe potentially forming a “next generation Big Three” alongside Maxey and McCain, providing a crucial “cushion” against future veteran injuries.
From scouting perspectives around the league, Edgecombe is viewed as one of the safest prospects in the draft due to his high floor provided by athleticism and defense. While opinions on his absolute ceiling vary, some executives see him as having more overall upside than players like Cam Thomas, praising his versatility and potential to score well above 12 points per game through his athleticism and driving ability. One executive even speculated he could be the second-best player in the entire draft class, drawing a parallel to Stephon Castle’s immediate defensive impact as a rookie. Most agree he projects to be a “pretty good” player and would be surprised if he failed to make an impact.
The selection of V.J. Edgecombe marks a significant moment for the 76ers, adding a player with immediately translatable defensive skills and elite athleticism, coupled with the potential to grow into a dynamic offensive threat. The journey from Bimini to Broad Street is complete, and the work now begins to see just how high this talented guard can fly for Philadelphia.
