Baylor Basketball's Edgecombe Named to Jerry West Award Mid-Season Top 10

WACO, Texas – Baylor freshman guard VJ Edgecombe was one of 10 players named to the Jerry West Award Mid-Season Top 10, announced Tuesday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Named to the preseason watch list as well, the fabulous freshman has lived up to his billing, averaging 14.9 points per game, upping that number to 18.1 points per game in Big 12 play. Playing extended minutes due to a shortened rotation, Edgecombe has shown no ill effects, raising his average from 11.7 points per game to 14.9 points per game in the nine games Baylor has been forced to play with a short bench.

Not only is he filling it up, but he’s also doing it efficiently, shooting 50% from the field and 58% from three-point range over the last five games.

The Bimini, Bahamas, native is one of three Big 12 representatives on the list, joining Caleb Love of Arizona and Curtis Jones of Iowa State. The other honorees include Alijah Martin of Florida, Kasparas Jakucionis of Illinois, PJ Haggerty of Memphis, Chaz Lanier of Tennessee, Tre Johnson of Texas, RJ Davis of North Carolina and Hunter Sallis of Wake Forest.

Baylor’s Adam Flagler was named a finalist for the Jerry West Award in 2023, as was MaCio Teague in 2021.

This list will be narrowed down to five as the season progresses, and then the finalists will be selected in late March, which will be presented to the Jerry West Family and the selection committee. The winner of this award will be announced during the Final Four weekend. Presentation details will be announced at a later date.  

Throughout this whole process, players will have the ability to play themselves on or off the list until the final five finalists are announced. Fan voting for the award will begin on Feb. 7.

Edgecombe and the Bears will be back in action on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT in Lubbock for a Super Tuesday showdown against Texas Tech. Rich Hollenberg and King McClure will have the call on ESPN2.