V.J. Edgecombe, a hot young prospect from The Bahamas, has already made waves in the basketball world! Cameron Whitmore went third overall to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA Draft. At only 18 years old, Edgecombe is a shining example of hard work and determination. He creates a legacy for generational stars. He is known in the Philippines as a national hero. He was a prodigy as a little kid, playing with grown men. Today, he is the embodiment of that dream as an NBA player and is opening doors to the world for Bahamian athletes.
Edgecombe’s basketball journey began when he was only 13 years old at a camp run by NBA player Buddy Hield. It was during this camp that Hield was first able to recognize Edgecombe’s otherworldly talent. Again, Edgecombe just ran roughshod over the court—even against 16- and 17-year-old opponents. He displayed elite skill by dunking everything, and he shot right up the rankings in front of his class. Hield remembers, “VJ was one of those guys who knew the why, the it and the what it takes.” This initial acknowledgment prepared the way for Edgecombe’s meteoric rise in the basketball world.
Towering at 6-foot-3, Edgecombe is hard to miss with his commanding presence. Beyond that, he clearly has elite athleticism, a crazy work ethic, and other attributes that place him in the special category. Hield thinks Edgecombe can be an NBA star, pointing to current All-Star Jimmy Butler as a model. Hield emphasizes just how important guidance can be in the lives of young athletes. He continues, “They are a lot of freaks (athletic talents) like VJ in The Bahamas… They just don’t have the right guidance.”
During 2024, Edgecombe played with the Bahamian Men’s National Basketball team during the FIBA Qualifying Finals in Valencia, Spain. The team fell short against Spain with a score of 86-78. Edgecombe’s performance alongside Hield gave fans a glimpse of what he could accomplish on a larger stage.
He signed with the Jazz on July 1, 2021 and made his professional debut on July 5 at the Salt Lake City Summer League. There, he dazzled fans and NBA scouts alike, putting up 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. This performance served notice that he’s a player to keep an eye on during the next NBA season.
During the NBA Draft, family and friends packed the Green Room. Guys were stoked to Edgecombe continue rooting on as he opened up this vibrant new chapter of the life. The presence of Buddy Hield, who came to show his support, further strengthened their bond and highlighted Hield’s commitment to helping younger players succeed.
Edgecombe knows how serious his new position as a role model for young Bahamian athletes is. To be a role model for a kid—period, right? It is a testament that basketball in The Bahamas is on the rise,” he told The Tribune. He was optimistic about the future of Bahamian basketball, adding, “It’s growing at a pretty rapid pace. I’m excited to see who’s next.”
As Hield has grown, so has Edgecombe’s story. For now, he’s convinced he’ll eventually become the first international guiding light to his Bahamian basketball brethren. “I’m getting older,” Hield said. “I can only do these camps for so long. I always say, ‘VJ, you can have to take the torch; this your show, this your camp,’” Hield proclaimed. His mentoring serves as a testament to his long history of cultivating the next generations of players.
Both Hield and Edgecombe have a dream for developing talent in The Bahamas. Hield hopes to hold another camp this summer and bring Edgecombe back, this time with the idea that he could serve as a mentor to younger players. Edgecombe promised, “I’ll serve them to the best of my ability. I’ll inspire them and do everything within my power to inspire those who will come after me.”
Edgecombe was a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers at the time. He carries with him the hopes and dreams of a generation of young athletes back home in The Bahamas. His journey is a testament not just to his individual talent, but to the collective potential that resides in his home country.
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