USC head coach Andy Enfield and staff landed the biggest name in high school basketball over the weekend when Brony James announced he would stay closer to home and join the Trojans next season. The eldest son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James chose USC over Ohio State and Oregon and hasn't commented on his recruiting once during his high school career.
LeBron was a proud father on Saturday night, telling reporters after the Lakers' Game 3 win over the Golden State Warriors, “USC is getting a great kid. He's there to play basketball, but they're super surprised by this.” What a great player he is. He's a kid, even though they've been recruiting him for a while.”
Bronie, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, is joining the top guards in the Class of 2023. Isaiah Collier and four stars ahead arinton page, The coaching staff and USC fans got a glimpse of how well James and Collier would play together in the backcourt when the two were teammates for two weeks during the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit.
“It's been great playing with him,” Collier told Yahoo Sports after practice at the Nike Hoop Summit. “Just the last couple of weeks and getting to know each other as players. He is an excellent shooter. I'm a good passer and we can play really well together.”
The pieces began to fall into place and the anticipation of James joining USC began in early April when two USC guards entered the transfer portal, making room for James to join the team on the roster. Sophomore guard Reese Dixon-Waters transferred to San Diego State, while freshman Tre White left USC and announced his commitment to louisville on Saturday a few hours after James Committed to USC.
Senior point guard Boogie Ellis is returning for his fifth year and was quick to welcome James to the team, tagging him and Collier in his Instagram story shortly after James' announcement. Alice drew played with lebron in the league last summer And will now pair up with his son in the backcourt next season. Ellis was named to the All-Pac-12 first team this past season and averaged 17.7 points and 3.1 assists per game.
It looks like Enfield will go with a smaller lineup in the backcourt with 6-foot-2 Ellis running point and 6-3 Collier at 2 and James at 3. Rounding out the projected five: one of the best guards in the Pac-12, Kobe Johnson, and 6-11 Joshua Morgan, who led the Pac-12 in scoring last season.
There is speculation that the Trojans are not finished with their 2023 recruiting class and Rumors started swirling over the weekend That current Kentucky committement, five star aaron bradshawIf Oscar Tshibwe returns for his fifth year and goes undrafted in this year's nba draft, he could be headed to USC.
Bradshaw, a 7-1 center, is one of the top players in his class and is a projected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Both Bradshaw and James are represented by LeBron's agency, Clutch Sports, for NIL representation and Clutch's headquarters are located in Los Angeles. Bradshaw, for his part, posted myself in kentucky jersey over the weekend in response to the USC rumors, but has not commented publicly about the possibility of leaving Kentucky.
This could be the most talented team under Anfield since coming to USC and will be one of the hottest tickets in town with star power not only on the court, but also when LeBron can make it into games. Since Enfield arrived in 2013, USC has won at least 21 games in seven of the last eight seasons and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament five times, including an Elite Eight run in 2021.
Bronie may only be at USC for one season, with many expecting him to be a one-man player and enter the 2024 NBA Draft. LeBron has a player option with the Lakers in the summer. In less than two years, LeBron and Brony could make history as the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA.
“I was serious about it, and I'm still serious about it,” LeBron said Saturday. “My son is going to have his own journey. And whatever his journey is, whatever his journey is, he's going to do what's best for him. So, just because that's my aspiration or my goal.” [playing in the NBA together], It does not mean that it is his. And I'm totally fine with that.”
Bronnie may not be the typical one-way prospect with his size and the numbers he put up during his high school career, but he plays the right way, is an excellent 3-point shooter, a great defender and no NBA scouts. Will be watching closely next season at USC.