Kentucky HC John Calipari in attendance to see Five-Star Plus+ SG VJ Edgecombe

Kentucky basketball head coach John Calipari was out on the recruiting trail Thursday night.

Calipari and Wildcats assistant Orlando Antigua were in attendance to watch Nassau (N.Y.) Long Island Lutheran Five-Star Plus+ shooting guard VJ Edgecombe.

Edgecombe has official visits in the books to Kentucky, Duke, St. John’s, Florida and Baylor.

On3 national recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw wrote earlier this month that most of the buzz in Edgecombe’s recruitment seems centered around Duke and St. John’s — but Kentucky is clearly pushing hard to land one of the best recruits in the 2024 class.

Edgecombe is the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is the cycle’s No. 2 shooting guard and top recruit from New York.

He is the second-highest-rated prospect to not sign during the early signing period that was open between November 8-15, only surpassed by Dylan Harper.

Edgecombe currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $512,000. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

VJ Edgecombe Scouting Journal

“When watching VJ Edgecombe, it’s the feel for the game that really pops. He never seems to force any of the action, making the right play, the right pass, the right read. Edgecombe is an explosive athlete, which helps him in transition as well as on the defensive end. He is a good shooter and forms a good base with consistent release. The jumper can be somewhat of a set shot, and he is more comfortable off the catch than shooting (from three) off the bounce.

“He is very instinctive on the defensive end, shooting the passing lanes aggressively. He moves his feet well on defense, guarding on the ball. He has good length and quick hands. Good vision and processes the game well. He gets a lot done in an efficient manner, you like that moving forward—lots of natural instincts. Not afraid of the moment. Comfortable on the ball as a secondary initiator type. NIBC and New York State Player of the Year.” — Jamie Shaw, August 8.