Five-Star Plus+ CG VJ Edgecombe no longer considering Kentucky

Glen Head (N.Y.) Long Island Lutheran Five-Star Plus+ combo guard VJ Edgecombe, the top uncommitted prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, is set to announce his decision on Sunday at halftime of the 7:30 PM ET time game on ESPN2 at the Hoophall Classic.

The No. 5 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle announced a final three of Baylor, Duke and Kentucky on Dec. 27. Only two of those schools will be in the mix come Edgecombe’s announcement, however. Kentucky is out of the running for the prized guard, sources tell On3’s Joe Tipton.

“It’s really difficult to pin a favorite here. This one feels like it’ll come down to Duke and Baylor. Today, one source told me they think it’ll be Duke, but another source suggested Baylor,” Tipton wrote on Friday.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Edgecombe, a native of the Bahamas, is the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle. He’s also the No. 2 shooting guard prospect. The On3 Industry Ranking is a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Scouting Report

“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.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw

Edgecombe’s NIL Valuation worth over $500K

VJ Edgecombe currently holds a $512,000 On3 NIL Valuation, which ranks 7th in high school basketball.

The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets the standard market NIL value for high school and college athletes. A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation calculates an athlete’s NIL value using dynamic data points targeting three primary categories: performance, influence and exposure.

About On3 NIL Valuation, Brand Value, Roster Value

While the algorithm includes deal data, it does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals athletes have completed to date, nor does it set an athlete’s NIL valuation for their entire career.

The On3 NIL Valuation accounts for an athlete’s roster value and brand value. Roster value is the value an athlete has by being a member of his or her team at his or her school, which factors into the role of NIL collectives. Brand value factors in an athlete’s personal brand and the value it could bring to regional and national brands outside of the scope of NIL collectives.