Arizona men’s basketball target Bruce Branch III reclassifying to 2026

Bruce Branch III, a former high school teammate of Koa Peat and one of the top prep basketball players in the nation, announced on Saturday he’s reclassifying to the 2026 class.

Branch, who until now was the top prospect in the 2027 class, told 247Sports he will graduate this spring and be eligible to play college basketball in the fall. The 6-foot-7 Branch now becomes the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2026 class and the No. 3 small forward, in 247Sports’ rankings.

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Branch played for Perry High School in Gilbert, Ariz. before transferring to Prolific Prep in Florida. He won title Arizona state titles playing alongside Peat.

Arizona offered Branch in June and is expected to be heavily involved in his recruitment. Other schools recruiting Branch include Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, USC, BYU, Houston and Miami.

247Sports’ Travis Branham describes Branch as a “highly talented wing with tremendous upside and outstanding physical tools at nearly 6-foot-8 with a huge 7-foot-1 wingspan.”

“He can put the ball on the deck, make shots from mid-range and from three, and has shown promising flashes of playmaking potential,” Branham wrote.

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Branch told ESPN he expects to make his decision in the springtime.

ESPN’s Paul Biancardi and Jeff Borzello wrote that Branch has the tools to be in immediate contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.

“He is one of the best 3-point shooters in the class, particularly on the move, while his midrange shot has a high release point and his length allows him to shoot over the top of defenders,” ESPN wrote. “Overall, his outside shooting shows a smooth, repetitive motion with terrific shot mechanics and preparation.”

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/arizona-men-basketball-target-bruce-191500272.html

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Publish date : 2025-11-23 19:15:00

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