The No. 6-overall ranked player made his college commitment on ESPN’s NBA Today.

Bruce Branch III, the No. 6-overall ranked player in the Class of 2026, announced his commitment to BYU on Tuesday on ESPN’s NBA Today.

The 6-foot-7 senior small forward, out of Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, chose the Cougars over USC, where he took an official visit last month. He also received interest from Arizona, Indiana, Houston, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, among several others.

Branch becomes the third 5-star commit for Kevin Young and the BYU Cougars, joining Egor Demin in 2024 and AJ Dybantsa in 2025. He is expected to replace Dybantsa’s role with the Cougars as he is arguably the No. 1-overall rated prospect ahead of the 2027 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.

Branch is a long and versatile small forward who can stretch the floor with the ability to create his own shot on the interior as well as out on the perimeter. He has a strong frame, standing at 6-foot-7, where he can play multiple positions on both ends of the floor. He has evolved his offensive game into that of a three-level scorer, attacking the paint and being effective in the mid-range. On the defensive end, he has a high upside, as he can guard multiple positions, using his length and athleticism to his advantage.

Branch is the fourth commit in the upcoming recruiting cycle to join Kevin Young’s program, joining four-star small forward Dean Ruckert, who committed to the Cougars back in November. He is also joined by four-star combo guard KJ Perry and unranked power forward Will Openshaw. 

Last summer, Branch played for Compton Magic on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 44% from inside the three-point line and nearly 39% from behind the arc. He previously led Perry High School in Arizona to back-to-back state championships during his sophomore and junior seasons, then finished out his high school career with Prolific Prep, which plays on the Grind Session circuit.

Ross Van De Griek has been a Southeast region scout & writer for On The Radar Hoops since 2024. He has been involved in basketball scouting with previous stops at Prep Hoops from 2022 to 2024. You can follow him on X @RossVDG14 or reach him via email at rossvdg14@gmail.com