All the questions were answered on NBA Draft Night, and now the next chapter in the basketball journey for VJ Edgecombe officially begins.
Edgecombe was selected third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
It was both a celebration and an outpouring of emotion for the Bimini native.
“I don’t have any words. It’s just surreal. I work hard, and everything is paying off,” he said, “But the work doesn’t stop. I’m definitely looking forward to going to Philly, meeting the team, getting ready for summer league, training camp, all that. I’m focused on playing now.
The 6’4” guard was also the highest selection ever for the Baylor bears program.
Edgecombe’s wardrobe displayed pictures of friends and family in the lining of his suit jacket, commemorating those who helped him along his path to the NBA.
“I came from a small island that’s only seven miles long. Everybody knows everybody. Just a small island. It’s like a little rock. Just to make it out of there, it means the world,” he said, “It means the world to me, and i know it means the world to my island.”
Edgecombe now becomes the fifth Bahamas senior men’s national team player active in the NBA alongside, Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, Kai Jones, and Eric Gordon.
“It’s crazy to think I’m a kid’s role model, man. But it shows that basketball in the Bahamas is growing, and It’s growing at a pretty rapid pace,” Edgecombe added, “I’m excited to see who’s next. Super excited to see who’s next. I’m going to help them as much as I can, inspire them, try my best to inspire the ones that come after me.”
