VJ Edgecombe, a standout from Baylor and a two-time Newsday Long Island Player of the Year from Long Island Lutheran High, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. The news came as a thrilling surprise for Edgecombe, who had heard whispers about his rising draft stock but received no concrete confirmation until the call from the 76ers just moments before NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced his name. He described the 15-second wait as overwhelming, a moment of pure living in the present before the reality set in.

Despite the initial shock, Edgecombe quickly shifted his focus to the future, emphasizing that his hard work was paying off but the effort would not cease. He expressed eagerness to join the 76ers, meet the team, and prepare for the Summer League and training camp. His journey to this point began when he moved from the Bahamas to LuHi to challenge himself against the highest level of high school competition, a drive that now propels him toward the pinnacle of professional basketball. The 19-year-old acknowledged the mental preparedness required to face experienced grown men and the varied challenges of the NBA every night.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 193 pounds, Edgecombe is noted for his explosive athleticism, particularly as an above-the-rim finisher who can create highlight-reel plays. He impressed at the draft combine, ranking in the top 10 with a 38.5-inch maximum vertical leap. While he demonstrated proficiency with seven games of at least three made three-pointers and 11 games with three-plus steals, his shooting percentages stood at 34% from three-point range and 25% on off-dribble jumpers, according to Synergy’s analytics rankings.

Joining a 76ers team in a