5-star V.J. Edgecombe commits to Baylor, using NIL for scholarships in Bahamas

In the midst of another outstanding season, the University of Baylor men’s basketball team got another piece of good news. Five-star shooting guard V.J. Edgecombe, widely considered a top-5 prospect in the class of 2024, announced his commitment to the Bears program.

Edgecombe, who leads a stacked cast at No. 3 Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.), chose Baylor over other finalists Duke and Kentucky.

Edgecombe told ESPN’s Paul Biancardi that he chose Baylor for its “winning culture, a great staff and head coach.”

“Coach Drew is a genuine person; he has built an incredible program,” he said. “There was a deep connection with Baylor. They have a strong foundation of faith, and there was also a spiritual connection. That was important to me.”

That’s not the only new commitment Edgecombe is making. According to ESPN’s Ted Emrich, the Bahamas native is using NIL money he has received to create scholarships in his hometown of Bimini.

Baylor is getting someone special in @vj_edgecombe, and in more ways than one. He’s using the NIL money he receives already to set up scholarships in his hometown of Bimini, Bahamas. You can see how special he is on the court today at 3pm ET on ESPNU. @PaulBiancardi #SicEm

— Ted Emrich (@tedemrich) January 15, 2024

The Bahamas’ basketball scene has grown in recent years, and this summer, it earned a berth in the Paris Olympic basketball qualifiers, which will be a chance for the team to reach the Olympics for the first time. The team is building a foundation with proven talent, led by NBA players Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon.

Next up is Edgecombe, a do-it-all player with athleticism and playmaking at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds.

Biancardi wrote about Edgecombe’s game:

A powerful, athletic guard who is scoring the ball at a high clip from all three levels, Edgecombe is at his best attacking the rim and finishing. His 3-point shot has made big strides, and he decelerates into his pull-up game effectively. He has continued to develop his impressive playmaking ability, and his drive-and-kick game shows vision and accuracy to hit the open man quickly.

Edgecombe averaged 21.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists at the Sportradar Showdown in Las Vegas over the summer, according to Biancardi. One of his top games this season came against La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), in which he posted 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Baylor, who won the National Championship in 2021, has lost in the Second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in the last two years. Midway through the 2023-24 season, the Bears are 14-2.