Mar 8, 2025; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard VJ Edgecombe (7) looks on against the Houston Cougars during the second half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Chris Jones-Imagn Images

NBA Draft Insider Reveals Concerning Detail About Top 76ers Prospect

Originally posted on Philadelphia 76ers on SI
By Justin Grasso | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 10:57 AM ET

After the first two picks fly off the board in Wednesday night’s 2025 NBA Draft, the event will get really interesting when it’s the Philadelphia 76ers’ time to make a pick.

Following the NBA Combine, the Sixers were heavily linked to the Rutgers star Ace Bailey. At this stage of the pre-draft process, everything has shifted. Bailey is no longer the consensus third pick, as Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe has moved into the picture.

Lately, Bailey has been gaining a lot of criticism due to the fact he hasn’t paid a visit to any teams. While that pumped up Edgecombe’s value for the Sixers, one recent detail of Edgecombe’s visit to Philadelphia wasn’t exactly inspiring.

According to ESPN’s Jonathon Givony, Edgecombe’s actual workout with the Sixers wasn’t picture-perfect. The soon-to-be rookie “appeared nervous” and didn’t shoot the ball “particularly well in an unnatural one-on-one setting.”

It wasn’t all bad for Edgecombe, though. The NBA Draft expert added that a strong impression was still made during the interview and meeting process. It was noted that the front office values that aspect of a pre-draft visit more highly than a workout.

It’s true that pre-draft workouts should be taken with a grain of salt. Some players who struggle during those sessions can still pan out to be valuable additions to a team. After all, it takes time to develop at the NBA level. There have been plenty of players who also dominated their pre-draft workouts and struggled to make a long-term impact after getting drafted.

The Sixers have plenty of tape on Edgecombe. The young guard just wrapped up a 33-game run at Baylor, where he spent an average of 33 minutes on the court.

Edgecombe was a two-way standout in the NCAA. Offensively, he made 44 percent of his shots and knocked down threes at a 34 percent clip, taking 4.6 per game. He posted averages of 15 points and three assists. Defensively, Edgecombe averaged six rebounds, one block, and two steals per game.

Despite the reported struggles during his workout, Edgecombe still seems to be the favorite for Philadelphia at No. 3 with the draft just days away. It’s been suggested that Ace Bailey’s decision to cancel his visit with the Sixers last week didn’t affect his chances of getting taken at three. But all signs continue to point to Edgecombe at this time.