BYU lands commitment from 5-star forward Bruce Branch III

Another top prospect is coming to BYU to play for Kevin Young.

Five-star forward Bruce Branch has committed to the Cougars, he announced Tuesday live on ESPN’s “NBA Today” show.

NEWS: Top-10 senior Bruce Branch III just committed to BYU on NBA Today, giving Kevin Young his third consecutive class with a five-star prospect.

“I can see myself leading this team to a championship,” Branch told @PaulBiancardi. “It just felt right.” pic.twitter.com/rnCmRgujZ4— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 3, 2026

Rated as the No. 6 recruit in the country by 247 Sports, Branch’s 0.9974 composite score from the site makes him the second-highest-rated commit in BYU program history, behind only AJ Dybantsa.

Branch chose the Cougars over competing offers from USC, Arizona, Kansas and a number of other notable programs.

“Branch is a big wing who is long and skilled with developing guard skills,” wrote Adam Finkelstein of 247 Sports. “His shooting is a legitimate, and still ascending, weapon. ... He’s not necessarily a dynamic creator just yet, but he’s smooth with the ball, handles to both sides, and typically able to keep his eyes up. So, while he’s probably best described as a wing right now, he’s gradually developing into more of a big guard.

Before announcing his college commitment to BYU, Bruce Branch III got emotional talking about his mom 🥺

He is the No. 6 recruit in the @SCNext Class of 2026. pic.twitter.com/EhxTcxd60F— ESPN (@espn) March 3, 2026

“Branch also moves well without the ball at an early stage, is willing to take smaller defenders into the post, and has advanced footwork. Defensively, his size, length and fluidity give him a ton of potential. Physically, he has terrific measurables at 6-foot-7 (in shoes) with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and good natural frame that is only just beginning to fill out.”

The Gilbert, Arizona, native currently plays for California’s Prolific Prep — where Dybantsa played before transferring to Utah Prep as a senior — and is the third high school commit for the Cougars in the current cycle, joining Dean Rueckert and Will Openshaw from Timpview High in Provo.