It’s been a busy summer for VJ Edgecombe’s first offseason as a pro. Apart from all the work he’s been putting into his game, he’s been representing the Bahamas in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Edgecombe didn’t play on Thursday in the Bahamas’ 103-94 win against Uruguay, as Buddy Hield led the way instead with 28 points. Now, though, Marc Stein has reported that the Bahamas are hoping Edgecombe will be returning on Monday as they take on Panama.
The Bahamas now sit at fourth place in Group F with a 3-4 record, and should have a solid chance to secure an important win over Panama (bottom of the group at 2-5), tipping off at 7:10 pm EST on Monday, to help increase their chances to qualify for next year’s World Cup. There’s some tough competition in the Bahamas’ group for them to catch up with, as Canada sit at the top at 7-0, followed closely by Argentina (6-1) and Uruguay (5-2).
Edgecombe has already been stepping up to help his country win, showing off his scoring at all levels of the floor and being a major disruptor on defense.
It’s all valuable experience for Edgecombe as he stays active over his first offseason as a pro. We’ve seen promising footage of him in Rico Hines Runs too, showing off a tighter looking handle and smoother form with his jumper.
There’s only so much we can take from summer scrimmage videos, but improvements to these two elements of Edgecombe’s game are worth paying attention to. Polishing his handle is one of the key ways for Edgecombe to level up as an on-ball creator, and a smoother jumper is particularly good to see. A reliable quick trigger is just what he’ll need when he’s operating off the ball next to the Sixers’ new plethora of stars next season.
With the growth and work ethic we’ve seen from Edgecombe already, I think it’s safe to say he’s up to the challenge of continuing his rise and playing exactly as this team needs him to.
