Bryce James, the youthful son of LeBron James, dedicated to Arizona on Wednesday, becoming a member of the Wildcats’ 2025 recruiting class.
James, 17, is a three-star recruit and the No. 257 participant within the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. A 6-foot-5 capturing guard, he had different presents from Ohio State and Duquesne, in accordance with 247Sports.
He introduced his dedication in a submit on Instagram.
James averaged 6.9 factors and a couple of.2 rebounds in 14 video games this summer time taking part in for his father’s AAU program, Try for Greatness, on the Nike EYBL circuit. He then averaged 5.6 factors and a couple of.8 rebounds in 5 video games on the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in July.
James’ older brother, Bronny, performed one season of school at USC earlier than he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in June. LeBron and Bronny turned the primary father-son duo to play in an NBA sport collectively in October.
Bryce James is the second dedication in Arizona’s 2025 class, becoming a member of four-star wing Dwayne Aristode.
Scouting report on Bryce James
As a prospect, Bryce James is much less developed than his older brother was at this level of their respective careers — which is notable, since Bronny was nonetheless comparatively ineffective as a high-major freshman. Each are about the identical measurement, roughly 6-foot-5, however Bronny has all the time been extra bodily developed than Bryce, each from a power and athleticism perspective. It might be surprising, given what Bryce has proven to date when it comes to productiveness, if he performed a serious function as a freshman subsequent season. The Wildcats even have a number of gamers on the wing eligible to return subsequent season: KJ Lewis (sophomore), Tobe Awaka (junior), Carter Bryant (freshman), and Aristode (top-30 recruit).
Earlier than committing to Arizona, the one two main gamers in Bryce’s recruitment had been Duquesne — the place LeBron James’ shut buddy and former highschool teammate, Dru Joyce III, is head coach — and Ohio State, which is lower than two hours away from LeBron’s hometown of Akron, Ohio.
This isn’t to say that Bryce will by no means be an impactful faculty participant, however even in comparison with Bronny — who would have benefitted developmentally from at the least one, if no more, extra years in faculty — this goes to be a long-term course of for the Wildcats. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has confirmed to be an apt expertise evaluator and developer, however this dedication feels rather more like a multi-season developmental play than one geared towards significant contributions subsequent season. Within the EYBL this summer time, Bryce had a number of contests the place he hardly registered on a field rating. That simply isn’t going to chop it on the high-major stage, and particularly not at Arizona, which gained at the least 27 video games in every of Lloyd’s first three seasons as head coach.
By way of play fashion, Bryce is much more of a strict off-ball participant than Bronny was. Bryce is marginally taller than Bronny, and given his age, there’s completely the potential he retains rising (though it appears unlikely he’ll be 6-foot-9 like his well-known father). That body, mixed with the capturing contact Bryce has showcased at numerous decrease ranges, suggests he may finally grow to be a fringe floor-spacer, though he’ll must grow to be rather more coordinated defensively to protect opposing high-major wings. However even that projection is extra predicated on Bryce’s instruments than his precise on-court manufacturing to this point. There’s no understating how far away Bryce is from being a productive high-major freshman, to not point out a possible NBA participant at some point. — Brendan Marks, faculty basketball author
What’s subsequent for Arizona?
Lloyd and workers are ready for a prized recruit within the 2025 recruiting class to make his resolution: five-star ahead Koa Peat.
Peat, an Arizona native, lower his checklist to 5 in early November: Baylor, Arizona State, Arkansas, Arizona, and Houston. Though Houston is unlikely to signal him as a result of Cougars touchdown five-star Chris Cenac, it’s amongst his finalists. There isn’t a timetable for his resolution, however Arizona wants Peat to complete out its 2025 class on a powerful be aware forward of the switch portal interval.
The Wildcats will lose their first and third main scorers, Caleb Love and Trey Townsend, so Peat could be anticipated to play a serious function subsequent season. The 6-foot-8, 235-pound ahead might be a lottery choose within the 2026 NBA Draft.
(Picture: Cassy Athena / Getty Photos)
