Both third of his name and third in a line of BYU-to-NBA stars, it's only fitting that Kevin Young's newest freshman phenom, Bruce Branch III, would wear "3" on his back while in Provo -- the same number worn by Egor Demin and AJ Dybantsa before him.
But numerals aren't the only trait tying BYU basketball's NBA legacy together; it's a pattern of high-character, leadership-oriented personalities that push the program forward both on and off the court. Branch's arrival in Provo, Utah, wasn't just happenstance, and money wasn't the driving force for this freshman's commitment.
To Branch, BYU felt like home immediately.
"First hour of my visit," Branch shared with BYU Sports Nation on when he knew he'd be playing basketball in Provo. "I wanted to commit right there."
At the risk of sounding like I'm in kahoots with a notable dating app in the Utah County area, the feeling was mutual between the McDonald's All-American and the BYU fanbase. Not content to accept the AJ Dybantsa era as an anomoly, Kevin Young and his staff have set a high precedent for the program, and Branch's acquisition was paramount to keep up the program's momentum.
Bruce is projected to be another one-and-done out of Provo, and mocked as early as the number-one overall pick in some way-too-early NBA mock drafts.
"People were so nice, so respectful, so kind. Knowing you're going to be around the right people and those people are going to make you a better person, it was instant for me. I could've, like," he continued, snapping his fingers and miming a finger phone up to his ear. "Yo, I'm committed to BYU."
"First hour of my visit"@bkbranch3 on when he knew BYU was the place for him 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sVZbmGDUar
— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) May 4, 2026
And the way that Branch carries himself and aligns his priorities, it's clear that a pattern of respect and hard-working nature lingers from Demin and Dybantsa, who are both pinnacle ambassadors of Brigham Young University following their freshman years on campus.
"I want to take BYU to the finals, because y'all deserve it." Branch shared on Kevin Young's recruiting pitch. "That pitch and the game plan [from Kevin Young]... I was speechless. It was spot on. I was committed, and after that, I don't need to go to another visit."
Much like Dybantsa, the likley number-one pick in this year's NBA Draft, Branch will be the central figure in Kevin Young's 2026 program. With hope for a deeper, more cohesive roster, this year's Cougars have their baseline expectations set well beyond last season's disappointment.
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