Edgecombe averages 27.5 points over two games
- Simba French
- Dec 18, 2023
- 0
Bahamian high school basketball sensation Valdez ‘VJ’ Edgecombe could not have asked for better homecoming games as he put on a show this past weekend, averaging 28.5 points at the 2nd Annual Hoopfest in Paradise at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium.
Edgecombe is ranked at number five on ESPN’s Top 100 list of high school players. The last time he played at home in The Bahamas was at the Hugh Campbell Tournament at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium in February 2020. He said he was happy to return home and play in front of family and friends with his Long Island Lutheran High School team that is based in Brookville, New York. Speaking with reporters while holding his baby brother, he had a smile on his face.
“It has been a minute since I played here,” Edgecombe said. “I think I have matured more on and off the court. On the court, I grew since you guys last saw me – just growing into my body and adjusting to getting stronger and faster to get to the next level. It was good to be back home to see everyone and play in front of family and fans and also to get some good food,” said Edgecombe.Top 10 Plays of the WeekTop 10 Plays of the WeekclosecloseNextStay
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He had his highest-scoring output on Friday, dropping a game-high 30 points as his team was able to cruise to an 81-68 victory against Mater Dei Catholic High School out of Chula Vista, California. The Bimini native put up 25 points in an 83-50 blowout win for Long Island Lutheran over Riviera Preparatory School out of Miami, Florida, on Saturday.
Playing in front of college scouts, National Basketball Association (NBA) scouts and NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith, Edgecombe did not disappoint as he was the star in the gym on Friday. The former Gateway Christian Academy (Bimini, The Bahamas) guard got off to a slow start, something that he chalked up to tough shooting, but once he got going, the opposing defense had no answer for him. His ball-handling skills were on display as was his shooting and his ability to score in the paint.
“Having a slow start is normal. I just adjusted to it,” Edgecombe said. “I just used my athleticism and my strength. I had to find a way to score and impact the game.”
Long Island Lutheran were lackluster in the beginning as Mater Dei opened the game looking like the better team. After Edgecombe’s team got settled, they began to play better. They got in the open floor by forcing turnovers and that led to easy baskets on the other end. At the end of the first quarter, Long Island Lutheran was up 16-12.https://a59d421ff944a1f8c0a61dc20d1d8ad1.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
Both teams scored 20 points in the second quarter and Long Island Lutheran led 36-32 at the half. Edgecombe’s comfort and ability to control the game on offense showed in the third quarter. He had a 10-point effort in that stanza and this team led 54-51 after three.
It was a dominant fourth quarter for Edgecombe’s team as they extended the lead to double digits for the first time in the game. They ended up outscoring Mater Dei, 27-17, in the fourth, coasting to the 81-68 win. Edgecombe dropped in eight points in that quarter.
Carmelo Anthony’s son, Kiyan Anthony, finished with 18 points. Mater Dei’s Luke Barnett finished with 29 points that included a whopping nine three-point shots.
After the game, Edgecombe was greeted by his family, supporters and old Gateway Academy teammates.
“It means a lot to me to have a lot of family and friends here and have the fans in my corner. Being the first from my island to go this far, it means a lot. The support system is great, they are every step behind me,” Edgecombe said.
Sitting at courtside on Friday night was Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg. The former senior men’s national basketball team head coach raved about Edgecombe’s play.
“He was quite frankly the best player on the basketball court tonight. He is very poised and has a very high IQ for the game of basketball. One could see he was the best basketball player on the floor. He is headed somewhere and he just have to remain focused and keep doing what he is doing. I have coached Bahamians and he has one of the highest IQs that I have ever seen in the game of basketball,” Bowleg said.https://a59d421ff944a1f8c0a61dc20d1d8ad1.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
Also on Friday night, the New Providence Public Schools Select Team and the New Providence Private Schools Select Team, bout out of The Bahamas, played each other. In the end, it was the public schools team winning, 61-50.
Steveacko Jacques led the public schools team with a team-high 13 points in the win. Nekero Brown finished with a team-high 11 points in the loss.
There were three other boys teams in action over the weekend namely Faith Family Academy (Dallas, Texas), Link Academy (Branson, Missouri), and Dynamic Preparatory School (Irving, Texas).
There were four girls teams in action namely Long Island Lutheran High School team (Brookville, New York), Lake Highland Preparatory School team (Orlando, Florida), Etiwanda High School team (Rancho Cucamonga, California) and DeSoto High School team (DeSoto, Texas).