After just one seson, Bahamian collegiate basketball player Valdez ‘VJ’ Edgecombe is making the step to the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In an expected move, the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year made the announcement on his social media platforms on Sunday, declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Edgecombe had an impactful first season for the Baylor University Bears, averaging 15 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three-point range.

Edgecombe, a 6’5” super athletic wing player who could play both ends of the floor effectively, started 29 of 29 games for the Bears this season, leading the Bears in minutes played at 32.3 per game, and was one of the more dynamic players in division one basketball in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He had a number of highlight reel dunks and jaw-dropping plays.

Edgecombe finished second on the team in scoring and assists, and led the team in steals this season. He led all freshmen in the conference in scoring and finished third among freshmen in rebounds and assists.

Edgecombe went into his freshman season with the Bears as the number three prospect in the ESPN Class of 2024 as a consensus five-star recruit out of Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville, New York. He certainly lived up that billing, as he proved to be one of the more impactful first-year players in college basketball.

Bimini native Edgecombe is projected to be a top five lottery pick in June’s NBA Draft. On Sunday he officially announced his decision to forego his sophomore season with the Bears and declare for the draft.

The 2025 NBA Draft will be the 79th edition of the annual draft, and is set for June 25-26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

As mentioned, Edgecombe ended his only season in college basketball as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and also earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team and All-Big 12 Second Team selections.

He could realistically become the highest drafted Bears prospect in program history, a mark set by both Davion Mitchell and Jeremy Sochan in back-to-back years as the ninth overall selection in 2021 and 2022.

Edgecombe is certainly one of the names to listen out for in the early lottery picks of the draft.