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For Los Angeles Lakers fans, one of this season’s highlights has been reveling in the groundbreaking father-son duo of LeBron and Bronny James this past season, as the pair have made history playing beside one another. Now, LeBron’s youngest son Bryce may be on pace to join them, as he has officially announced his intention to play for the University of Arizona‘s Wildcats this coming fall. Bryce James was voraciously pursued by several appealing Pac-12 schools over the last few weeks, with the Tucson-based school apparently offering the most compelling welcome package. The rising star’s choice was commended with comments from numerous NBA legends, including Kevin Durant, Jamal Crawford, Rachel Nichols and of course, LeBron himself.
Bryce’s older brother famously played just one season with his college of choice before declaring for the NBA draft, meaning we could potentially see a triumvirate of players from the prolific James family as early as 2027. So, let’s take a moment to unpack Bryce James’ decision, recruit status and overall basketball record to see what we can learn about the future of his athletic career as he transitions from high school to college and beyond.
What Are Bryce James’ Stats Ahead Of His First College Season?
Bryce James is registered as a three-star recruit from Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. The guard currently stands at a towering six feet and six inches tall, weighing in at only 190 pounds. His current playing average at the time of this writing is 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist, recorded from just four high school games this season. While these numbers aren’t quite the remarkable figures you’d expect to see from an athlete being pursued by multiple Division 1 schools, it should be noted that Bryce missed several early season games due to an injury, so he’s starting out from behind the 8-ball.
The 17-year-old was also selected to play in the Nike Peach Jam last July, where he faced off against some highly competitive contemporaries. His stats, as recorded in the five Peach Jam games, average out to 5.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1 block, with roughly 22.2 on-the-court minutes measured per game. Bryce’s older brother Bronny, who also attended Sierra Canyon High, recorded an average of 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game by the time he graduated, meaning Bryce still has big shoes to fill.
What Has LeBron Said About Bryce’s Announcement?
As usual, LeBron James has been exceptionally supportive of his son, taking to Instagram to congratulate Bryce for his decision. The prolific NBA forward shared a photo of Bryce rocking the Wildcats jersey with a caption that read, “Official threads,” echoing Arizona’s “Bear Down” catchphrase. Per a report in Arizona Sports, LeBron explained, “It was his decision to make, and he went where he felt comfortable.” He continued to espouse kind words about U of A’s head coach Tommy Lloyd, calling him a “straight shooter,” before saying, “We’re happy to be part of the Bear Down community now.”
Elsewhere, LeBron took the time to roast two of his former teammates, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye. The duo, who played alongside James during his championship-winning 2016 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, each hailed from the University of Arizona before being drafted into the pros. While discussing his pride in Bryce James joining the Wildcats, LeBron quipped “I got some terrible friends in Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye who are alum there, so not too excited about that. But other than that, we’re excited to be a part of the Tucson community.”
What Other NBA Legends Have Played For The Wildcats?
The University of Arizona is home to many popular NBA draftees, including champions like Zeke Nnaji, Aaron Gordon, Luke Walton, and Jason Terry. The most recent alumnus to make the jump from the Wildcats to the NBA is Pelle Larsson, who was chosen 44th overall in the 2024 draft by the Houston Rockets. Likewise, U of A has also served as the home to several familial athletic dynasties, which should make Bryce James feel right at home. Former Kansas State wide receiver Tre Spivey III recently committed to play for the university’s football team, following in his father’s footsteps. Tre is the son of Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Junior Spivey, who took home a World Series win with the MLB team back in 2001.
Shaquille O’Neal‘s son Shareef also briefly played for the Wildcats, though he ultimately transferred to UCLA before wrapping up his first season. Other Wildcat student-athletes hailing from professional sports families include Mike Bibby, Trey Mason, Hank Hobson, Jacob Hazzard and the Harris brothers, Jalen and Jason. Though some fans have been quick to tear down Bryce James’ accomplishments due to his familial ties to the NBA, others have lauded LeBron’s progeny, citing the James family’s domination over Lakers basketball. With any luck, we may soon see Bryce running the court alongside his father and older brother, forming the very first dynasty of their kind.
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