Bronny James: Latest news, recruiting updates
Being the son of NBA legend LeBron James, Bronny James was always going to have one of the most high-profile recruitments in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Now James is the highest-ranked uncommitted prospect remaining in the cycle.
As basketball fans everywhere await Bronny’s final decision, here’s a look back at Bronny’s recruitment dating back to last August:
August 12, 2022 – ESPN’s Paul Biancardi reports that he had a ‘strong feeling’ Bronny will take the college route instead of going to the NBA G League, Overtime Elite or heading overseas straight out of high school. Biancardi also noted that Bronny was also being recruited by UCLA, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, and Southern California.
August 15, 2022 – On3 National Basketball Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw reports from intel that Ohio State, Oregon and USC were actively recruiting Bronny while Michigan and UCLA were not.
August 16, 2022 – Jamie Shaw logs an expert prediction for Oregon to land James’ commitment. Oregon had not offered James at the time and still have not extended an offer.
“Speaking with sources close to the situation, the ties to Oregon are deep,” Shaw wrote at the time. “We are told there is comfort with the situation, the circumstances and the program. We are told James is going to go through the process.
“At this point, the plan is to take virtual visits, Zooms and in-person visits to go through the whole experience. Sources tell us that at this point, heading into visits, Oregon has a lead and that James is looking like he will end up in Eugene.”
LeBron later in the day tweets out, “He hasn’t taken 1 visit yet and has only had a few calls with coaches and universities. When Bronny makes his choice you’ll hear it from him.”
August 19, 2022 – Bronny picks up an offer from Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers.
September 3, 2022 – Bronny attends Ohio State’s football game against Notre Dame on an unofficial visit where he received ‘We want Bronny’ chants from crowd. The Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy reports that Bronny spent four hours earlier in the day with the basketball program. He attended practice and had a photoshoot during that time.
September 6, 2022 – Bronny posts pictures from the Ohio State photoshoot on his Instagram with the caption “buckeye nation? #notcommitted 🙂👍🏾.”
January 17, 2023: A report from Luca Evans of The Los Angeles Times states Bronny will make his college decision after the season and will choose between Ohio State, Oregon and USC.
January 18, 2022: In a conversation with Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek, five-star power forward Kwame Evans Jr., am Oregon signee, told Peek that he knows Bronny is interested in the Ducks.
“(Bronny) told me he likes Oregon, and I want him to visit there,” Evans told Peek. “Everyone that’s coming in is unselfish. We all cut, move and don’t hold the ball too long, so it’s going to benefit him. Bronny can be more of a playmaker and a shot creator, and I think we would play really well together.”
January 20, 2023: Bronny tells On3’s Joe Tipton regarding Ohio State, Oregon and USC, ““I’m still open, but those are options.”
January 24, 2023: Bronny is named as a West team selection for the 46th annual McDonald’s All-American game.
February 22, 2023: ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reveals his first 2024 NBA Mock Draft and has Bronny going as a top-10 pick with the Orlando Magic taking him at No. 10.
March 9, 2023: In the latest edition of the 2023 On3 150, Bronny is named a five-star prospect and the No. 9 player in the country.
March 14, 2023: Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant says on a Boardroom podcast that he hopes Bronny goes to college instead of going another route and ‘disappearing for a year’. He also guesses that Bronny ends up at USC.
“I wanna see Bronny hoop,” Durant said. “I wanna be in real time, see what he’s doing and follow his journey. When you go to OT and Ignite, you go away for a year.
“USC is my guess too. It’s going to obviously be easier for Bron to catch the games if he’s at USC.”
March 28, 2023: Bronny participates in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game.
March 28, 2023: Bronny participates in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game, where he finished with 15 points, four assists and a rebound. James was 5 of 10 from the field including 5 of 8 from the 3-point line.
April 5, 2023: Bronny is asked during a media session ahead of the Nike Hoops Summit about when he was going to make college but that question is quickly shot down by a rep as Bronny has stopped talking about recruiting.
April 8, 2023: On3’s Jamie Shaw puts in a prediction for USC to land a commitment from Bronny. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Trojans’ chances to land Bronny’s commitment jump up to 72.3%.
April 15, 2023: Gerry Hamilton of Inside Texas places an expert prediction for USC to land a commitment from Bronny. Following Hamilton’s pick, the Trojans’ odds on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine rise to 85.4%.
April 16, 2023: Bronny is appearing in a promotional commercial through an NIL deal for Fast X, the latest installment of the Fast & Furious movie series. The commercial has been running during the NBA playoffs.
May 6, 2023: Bronny announces on Instagram that he’s committed to USC.