Five-Star Recruit Bruce Branch III Visits BYU Basketball
Jan 26, 2026, 7:10 PM | Updated: Jan 27, 2026, 10:52 am
PROVO, Utah – Five-star recruit Bruce Branch III was in attendance for BYU basketball’s home game against the Arizona Wildcats.
The 6-foot-7, 190-pound prospect is the number five overall prospect for the 2026 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite. Branch reclassified to 2026 from the class of 2027, where he was previously the No. 1 recruit in the ’27 class.
Bruce Branch III visits BYU basketball for the game against No. 1 Arizona
Five-star Bruce Branch III here at the Marriott Center for BYU vs. Arizona. pic.twitter.com/pQmEsl3BaT
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 27, 2026
BYU is among many programs that are currently pursuing the Prolific Prep star, who boasts a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
Houston and Kansas are two of the notable Big 12 programs that have offered and are pursuing Branch.
Before Monday’s game, Branch watched BYU’s team warmups that included former No. 1 recruit in the 2025 cycle, AJ Dybantsa.
Branch is 17 years old; he will turn 18 this November.
Earlier this month, Branch was named to Team USA’s Nike Hoop Summit squad.
BYU currently has three players committed for the class of 2026: Timpview wing Dean Rueckert, No. 1 JUCO transfer KJ Perry, and Timpview center Will Openshaw.
Perry is currently with this year’s BYU team, redshirting. Openshaw plans to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling, while Rueckert is expected to enroll at BYU next season.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
