Basketball recruitment at Baylor: Five-star guard VJ Edgecombe pledges, propelling the Bears’ 2024 class into the top 10.
Baylor has another important player to base its 2024 strategy on in Edgecombe.
One of the best players in the country, five-star guard VJ Edgecombe, made the Bears his first choice on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2024, despite having a full offer sheet with finalist Duke and Kentucky.
Just a few months after traveling cross-country for an official visit that included a stop in Waco, Texas, to see the Bears, Edgecombe, who was picked by Baylor and ranked No. 6 overall in the cycle by 247Sports, During his recruitment, he had about twenty-six offers from Villanova, Florida, Alabama, and Michigan universities.
Edgecombe was the top-ranked recruit in the 2024 cycle who hasn’t committed before he made his decision on Sunday. He answered the phone suitably from Springfield, Massachusetts, where he competed in the prestigious HoopHall tournament this past weekend and demonstrated his superior athletic ability.
Adam Finkelstein of 247Sports said of Edgecombe after evaluating him last summer: “Edgecombe is an athletic scorer on the wing with developing guard skills.” “He can rise up for highlight-finishes that not many players can make, and he’s a terror in transition, applying tremendous pressure to the rim.” Furthermore, he is an adaptable athlete who keeps his natural strength even when he bulks up, jumps many times, and reacts rapidly throughout his floor routine. His toolkit of abilities is always growing.
He clearly wants to become a better full guard, but for now, he seems to be most effective while looking to score. He can shoot three points rather well, although not very consistently, and he has good lift for his mid-range jumper. When he’s not launching huge dunks, he’s still a fantastic finisher who uses both quickness and mid-air body control.
He still has to work on his left hand and is still prone to turnovers, even if his passing and handling have much improved. He has all the necessary tools, including the perfect competitive mentality, to be successful on that end of the floor when it comes to defense.”
Edgecombe and his Long Island Lutheran squad lost against Columbus on Saturday, 81-62, despite having a fantastic first half and finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the loss.
With Edgecombe joining the team, Baylor’s outstanding 2024 recruiting classโwhich is currently rated No. 24 overallโbecomes even more formidable as it includes three players rated in the top 40: Edgecombe, four-star Rob Wright, and five-star wing Jason Asemota. He also joins exclusive company inside the school as the third-highest commit to Baylor during the recruiting cycle, behind only Quincy Miller and Isaiah Austin.