VJ Edgecombe provided fans with more details about his journey to becoming this year’s third overall pick in his Player’s Tribune piece titled “For All The Kids Still Wishing”.
The Sixers rookie hails from the small Bahamian island of Bihimi, which sits about 50 miles due east from Miami, Florida. As Edgecombe put it, the odds of someone from the island making the NBA has “gotta be like 0.000001% chance. That’s probably not even enough zeros, to be honest.”
Naturally, he has been reliving the draft
process, college season at Baylor, and everything else that has led him to the Sixers. This includes the people he believes influenced his development the most, and none more appreciated than his first basketball coach, “Sugar.”
Edgecombe recalled a draft night interview where the reporter asked him to explain his suit.
“I opened up my jacket and looked down, and I just started tearing up. It said Sugar for my first coach, Grathen “Sugar” Robins. He passed away a while back. He was the first person who told me I could make it to the league. He always believed in me. Always. Seeing his name …. that’s when it all really hit me. It was like, Damn, we really did it. I know you up there proud of me.”
Edgecombe credits Robins for introducing him to basketball around the time he was only 8 years old. He would invite all the kids on the island to participate in his basketball camps, urging everyone to improve and find the love for the game.
When Edgecombe was just 9 years old, Robins took his team to a tournament in Freeport, a city on the island of Grand Bahama. It was Edgecombe’s first time traveling off the island for a game, let alone his first time ever in a plane.
In a tournament with higher ranked teams, the squad from Bimini took home the championship.
“Man it was so dope. I just have to give so much credit to Sugar. He believed in all the kids on the island. He always used to talk about wanting to see a change for us. That’s what’s stuck with me over the years. He sponsored me and other kids, too, so he knew better than anyone the different obstacles everyone faced at home. He just wanted us to have a better life for ourselves and our families. And he blessed us, man.”
The impact Robins had on Edgecombe’s early basketball career was palpable, especially once it was taken away from him.
Edgecombe explained with sorrow that Robins would pass away just a year later, as the mentor was battling an illness that was kept secret from himself, and his teammates, who were still kids.
“I hate that he never got to see me walk across that stage in New York, just like he predicted. I just hope he’s up there smiling.”
In 2020, Edgecombe moved to Florida, living with his older brother, Tario, who was attending college in the state which got shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He credited his brother for sacrificing a ton during the two years the 15-year-old was figuring out his next steps.
Edgecombe was a teenager in Florida with no college offers, looking for a high school to grow his profile. He got connected to AAU coach Anthony Ricks, who brought him on to play with the South Florida Kings.
During this period, Ricks filled the mentor role left by Robins.
“Coach Ricks knew that I had nobody to take me to practice and games, so he used to come pick me up. He also worked out with me in the mornings when he had time. He believed in me from the jump. He thought I was the best player in the county, at the time. I played for him for two years. Then it was time for me to go. I made that decision on my own, before really even talking to anybody. I told Tario like, ‘Man, I’m going to make it happen. This won’t be all for nothing.’”
Ricks helped him reach the next step, utilizing his connections to get Edgecombe into the program at Long Island Lutheran High School (LuHi), in Brookville, New York.
As a junior, Edgecombe led LuHi to a state championship and won MaxPreps New York Player of the Year. Still, he was just the 43rd ranked prospect overall in the country.
Things changed his senior year, when LuHi went 21-5 against a much better schedule, facing the best competition from around the country. Edgecombe averaged 17.3 points, six rebounds, four assists and over two steals per game.
He rose to become the fourth overall prospect in the country and earned McDonald’s All American honors thanks to a tremendous season.
When he got invited to play for the Bahamian national team in 2024, his first reaction was that he wouldn’t get playing time. Given the roster included NBA players like Buddy Hield, Eric Gordon and Deandre Ayton, he was expecting the “young buck treatment”.
“You know, sit on the sidelines, watch the game, practice….. But also, deep down I was like, I can’t let that happen.”
Impressively, Edgecombe repented the complacency.
As he revealed during his guest appearance on Podcast P with Paul George, Edgecombe is not afraid to talk on the court. It likely showed on the Olympic team.
“On the first day of practice, I wanted to make myself seen. I’m talking noise to everybody, just building my confidence. I knew that being younger, they’re going to think you’re scared. And I was not scared. I just thought, Man, y’all going to remember me in this practice. If y’all don’t ever see me again, y’all going to remember me.”
This mentality from Edgecombe is extremely impressive, and is part of the reason Sixers fans began falling for him as a draft prospect long before it was time for his name to be called.
He continued explaining how he grew under coach Scott Drew during his one year at Baylor University both on and off the court.
“Coach Drew’s impact on me was tremendous. He had a big impact on my life, especially off the court, spiritually, with staying connected to God. That’s something I really pride myself on. I know the ball will stop bouncing one day. Hopefully no time soon. But whenever that happens I just want to make sure I’m guided by my values and my faith.”
The rookie appears to have his head screwed on straight, and is devoted to working for his family now and for his post-basketball life. It is clear to see how well he will get along with the young core of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, both on and off the court. They are all fundamentally focused and mature for their age, lending themselves to grow all the intangibles needed in today’s NBA.
Now in Philadelphia, Edgecombe has been integrating himself into the city.
“Now, I’ve gotten the chance to explore a little bit. I’ve had some Philly cheesesteaks. I’ve run up the Rocky Steps. I’m just getting comfortable and getting my bearings. But I’m really looking forward to earning your respect, and the respect of my teammates and coaches. I’m just trying to be a sponge and learn and absorb, and hopefully get better.”
It is unknown what kind of cheesesteak scene there is on Bimini, but I would take a guess it does not compare to the real hometown thing. Whether it is entry-level pandering or genuine exploration, Edgecombe is quickly becoming a fan favorite one way or another.
His story from his roots on a tiny island to playing in front of one of the most electric fan bases in the world is an inspiring tale that stretches past the sports world. Edgecombe’s journey is a human story, and sparks a different connection to fans than other players. In a similar vain to Joel Embiid’s journey to the NBA, you feel for the person who is going through it, not just the player.
Edgecombe’s chapter on the Sixers is just beginning. With a recent report that league executives view Edgecombe as the most likely to be the best draft pick outside of Cooper Flagg, there is no telling how high his ceiling really is.
“The journey has been crazy, man. It’s just surreal. Philly, I’m proud to be one of you, now.”
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