Would VJ Edgecombe Fit With The Utah Jazz?
May 9, 2025, 12:45 PM | Updated: May 14, 2025, 1:52 pm
VJ Edgecombe #7 of the Baylor Bears (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY—After the Utah Jazz fell to the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, one name they’ll monitor closely is Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe.
The Jazz had a 52.1 percent chance of landing one of the top four picks in the draft, and a 47.9 percent chance of selecting fifth.
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VJ Edgecombe Scouting Report
Bio: 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists: .436/.340/.782
Baylor – Guard/Forward – 19 years old on draft night
Strengths: Outside of the top-ranked Cooper Flagg, VJ Edgecombe is the best two-way player projected to be selected in the top half of the lottery.
Due to his elite athleticism and high-level motor, Edgcombe affects the game on both ends of the floor as a shooter and defensive playmaker.
Offensively, the Baylor guard is most effective in the halfcourt as a spot-up three-point shooter, where he shot 39 percent during the Big 12 regular season on a healthy 4.8 attempts per game.
VJ Edgecombe vs BYU…
28 PTS (9-15 FG, 6-8 3PT)
5 AST
4 REBSBro hooping his way into the top 5 aint he?? pic.twitter.com/hDY6BjQYkm
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) January 29, 2025
When his three-point shot is falling, Edgecombe can attack opposing defenses on closeouts and finish at the rim with high-flying dunks.
The guard also showed an ability to cut off the ball to generate looks at the basket, and is a willing passer to keep the offense flowing.
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Edgecombe is at his best in transition, where his run-and-jump style of play results in explosive finishes over, around, and through defenses, taking off from uniquely far distances from the rim and finishing with ease.
With his likely 38+ inch vertical, Edgecombe is a dangerous lob threat both in transition and in the halfcourt, and occasionally shows the ability to get all the way to the rim off the dribble.
VJ Edgecombe transition scoring.
64.4% FG at the rim in transition (1.144 PPP). pic.twitter.com/6aXI66ukWU
— Mohamed (@mcfdraft) May 8, 2025
Defensively, the guard is incredibly disruptive off the ball, averaging 2.1 steals, and recorded at least three steals in 11 of his 33 appearances in college.
The guard is also one of the best shot blockers out of the backcourt in recent draft history, disrupting jump shooters and recording a surprisingly high number of chase-down blocks at Baylor.
Weaknesses: Despite strong athleticism and promising touch as a shooter, Edgecombe is limited as a shot creator and won’t enter the NBA as a player capable of carrying a large offensive load.
The guard struggled to knock down shots off the dribble and can be clunky when trying to generate his own looks.
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Edgecombe’s athleticism has likely allowed him to finish at the basket against lesser opponents throughout his career, which has left his ball-handling skills underdeveloped compared to other guards projected to be selected in the top 10.
Furthermore, his inability to create for himself off the dribble limits his ability to make plays for others, despite his willingness as a passer and unselfish demeanor.
VJ Edgecombe is already making things happen 🌟 pic.twitter.com/jW7atYbkKB
— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) March 25, 2025
Edgecombe measured in at 6-foot-4 without shoes at the draft combine, which may limit his ability to defend bigger wings.
While there is significant upside to his defense, Edgecombe is more effective at generating steals and blocks than he is locking up opposing players.
Unlike Lu Dort, Jrue Holiday, and Alex Caruso, who excel in the NBA by taking lead ballhandlers out of games in crucial moments, the Baylor guard is more prone to making plays defensively off the ball rather than on it.
Though just one year removed from high school, Edgecombe will be 20 years old before stepping onto the court in the NBA for the first time, while several other one-and-done draftees will have yet to turn 19.
How Would VJ Edgecombe Fit With The Utah Jazz?
After finishing with the worst record in the NBA, the Jazz are in need of a true star talent, and while there’s a world in which Edgecombe’s ballhandling and off-the-dribble shooting develop, he’s more likely to become a high-level role player than he is a true franchise cornerstone.
Having been overly reliant on Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson to generate shots over the last three years, the Jazz could use a bigger wing to create advantages for the offense, and Edgecombe hasn’t proven he’s capable of doing that throughout most of his young career.
Thought these back-to-back possessions against Houston for VJ Edgecombe were among his best of the season.
Obviously struggled with TOs last night against the ball pressure, but two big questions for him are left hand and driving gathers/finishes. Good flashes here with both. pic.twitter.com/g6F35gE4Hy
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 11, 2025
Better spacing and more effective screens could allow Edgecombe’s athleticism to truly pop in the halfcourt in the NBA, but even with a spread-out system at Baylor, the guard wasn’t able to utilize his bounce frequently enough to dominate games.
Playing next to Walker Kessler, Taylor Hendricks, and Cody Williams could give the Jazz the ability to mix and match long, athletic defensive lineups, but one that may struggle to score without a true go-to option on offense.
Ultimately, Edgecombe’s two-way ability in the backcourt and potential for offensive growth will likely see him land in the top five picks of the NBA draft, but a team looking for a star-level player may be underwhelmed.
The NBA Draft lottery will be held on May 12.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
