5-star guard is 'very serious about BYU' as Cougars sprint ahead in his recruitment

One of the most highly-regarded recruits in the nation has his eyes on BYU basketball. A high school star with connections to Prolific Prep in California has reclassified up and taken an official visit to Provo, Utah, and may very well spend his freshman season dressed in royal blue following his senior year of high school hoops.

Please let me know if this is starting to sound familiar.

Bruce Branch III, the sixth-ranked recruit and second-highest available player in the ESPN recruiting ladder, has been tied to Kevin Young's program for some time now, and a recent quote from his high school coach should have Brigham Young University's athletic department donors digging deep into their NIL pockets once again.

"Bruce reclassified up in October, which affected his timeline because it took away his visit season. But he is very serious about BYU and USC, and they are serious about him. Those are the two schools he will most likely come down to.

"His visit to BYU was very high-level. They showed him what AJ Dybantsa is doing, and they see him in that role; the size, length, skill set, and versatility to impact in multiple ways. Bruce loved the basketball presentation, how it's an NBA program, from the workouts, practice, nutrition, strength and conditioning to recovery. He got to see them play Arizona and how they operate on game day."

He went on to share USC and Coach Musselman's vision for Bruce in Southern California, citing a large media market and the program's proven track-record of sending players to the NBA.

It's clear, when comparing the highs of each program's pitch, that BYU basketball is a much more attractive option for non-LDS recruits (and even LDS recruits, for that matter) since Kevin Young's overhaul.

BYU basketball is no minor player -- they're a serious contender for some of the top talent in the nation, and a legitimate stepping stone for one-and-done players to reach their ultimate goal of playing in the NBA.

And if all that wasn't enough to get your heart racing, take a gander at his current 247 crystal ball projections: 100% of experts project Branch to land at BYU when it's all said and done.

BYU and USC are the only programs Branch has visited, and the two true competitors to secure his commitment.