Fresh off FIBA success, five-star wing Bruce Branch III brings elite length and defensive versatility to Provo, aiming to solidify Kevin Young’s reputation for elite pro development.
Kevin Young doesn't get enough credit for his NBA-style development.
The BYU Cougars coach has boosted the program toward new heights and is on the verge of another lottery pick in the NBA Draft next week. While AJ Dybantsa will be celebrating the start of his new career, there's another five-star in Provo who will be following in his footsteps.
After earning a silver medal at the FIBA U18 Americup, Bruce Branch III is ready to make a name for himself in the college ranks. Unlike Dybantsa, there was no big arrival, but there didn't need to be. Everyone was surprised by a blue-chip with a national profile like Dybantsa's landing with BYU. Now, it's common for Young and his staff to compete for the top players given his background and connections to the NBA scene.
Branch received high praise from his coach this week, telling reporters what he brings to the table.
“His sheer length, his size, his defense, his ability to make shots,” Young said about Branch’s game. “I think he’s a guy that can really shoot the ball from the perimeter, but also find ways to impact the game when he’s not scoring. I think that’s one of his greatest strengths. He really is a winning player, he really does a lot of things that help you win, and he takes pride in doing that, which for a young guy is impressive.
“Most of these guys, if they’re not scoring, they don’t care, but he’s a guy that understands the value of doing the little things. It’s one of the things we talked about when we were recruiting him that stood out for me. So he’s a guy that’ll fit in well, you know, from that standpoint.
"I think there will be times I’ll try to wind him up, you know, to maybe be even more aggressive at times, but my hope for him is, he’s such a young guy, and he has so much talent, it’s just every day can he get better?”
Branch, a 6-foot-7 wing from Prolific Prep, was originally ranked as the No. 2 two overall prospect in the 2027 class. He reclassified to 2026 and was bumped down to No. 6 in the SC Next 100 rankings. One of his biggest attributes is his shooting range and the ability to pull up at will. Defensively, his size gives him an advantage with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and good natural frame.
