BYU’s Bruce Branch III to participate in Team USA U18 National Training Camp

PROVO – BYU basketball freshman Bruce Branch III will be representing Team USA at the U18 National Training Camp.

Branch was one of 35 athletes selected to participate in the training that will begin on Thursday, May 21, and last until May 28 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The 6-foot-6 wing from Gilbert, Arizona, will compete for a spot on the 12-member Team USA squad competing in the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup in Leon, Mexico, next month.

Bruce Branch III to compete in Team USA U18 National Training Camp

35 athletes will take part in 🇺🇸 #USABMU18 training camp!

The final 12-man roster will compete at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men's AmeriCup scheduled for June 1-7 in Leon, Mexico.

🏀 https://t.co/VfM6va0oHN pic.twitter.com/mjGAsh1lNT

— USABJNT (@usabjnt) May 8, 2026

Branch represented Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, earlier this year, helping USA defeat the World in overtime, 102-100.

The coaches leading training camp for the U18 National Team will be head coach Anthony Grant from Dayton, along with assistants Matt Langel from Colgate and Nate Oats from Alabama.

It’s the second consecutive offseason in which a heralded BYU freshman is competing for Team USA. Last year, former BYU star AJ Dybantsa led Team USA to a U19 Men’s World Cup Gold Medal and won MVP honors.

Branch III enrolled at BYU last month in preparation for his first year in college basketball.

Some of the other U18 Training Camp athletes have received offers from BYU. Those players include 2027 prospects Demarcus Henry and Malachi Jordan. There’s one player in the class of 2028 who will be competing in the U18 Training Camp: five-star Adan Diggs, who also holds an offer from BYU.

Branch, a five-star prospect who concluded his high school career at Prolific Prep, ranks as the No. 5 overall recruit in the class of 2026 composite rankings from 247Sports.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL 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.

Want more coverage of BYU sports? Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up to date on all your favorite teams.

Follow @Mitch_Harper