Kentucky extended a scholarship offer to Frisco (Tex.) Heritage 4-star small forward and top-30 2026 prospect Bryson Howard, he announced via social media on Monday.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound wing is currently ranked No. 28 overall in the 2026 class by 247Sports.
The Wildcats join an offer sheet for Howard that also includes the likes of Duke, Georgetown, Houston, Indiana, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, SMU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UConn, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, among others.
Howard has become one of the hottest names in the 2026 class with his play this spring and summer, first during the live period in May, then at the NBA Top 100 Camp in South Carolina and most recently in front of UK assistants Alvin Brooks III and Mikhail McLean at the TABC Showcase in Duncanville, Tex. over the weekend.
"Howard boasts a college-ready frame and a polished scoring touch from multiple spots on the floor," wrote 247Sports national recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins. "The lefty is a consistent threat from deep and can elevate to finish above the rim when he finds a lane. Howard projects well as a physical two-way player who can efficiently play within himself."
Playing for the Texas-based Pro Skills on the Nike EYBL circuit, Howard ranks sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game while ranking third in 3-point percentage (45.5%) while also ranking third in efficiency and eighth in performance index rating.
He is just the 13th prospect and fourth small forward in the 2026 class to receive a scholarship offer from Kentucky during this cycle.
Howard is the son of 10-year NBA veteran and 2007 All-Star Josh Howard, who was a first round pick in the 2003 NBA Draft after being named First Team All-American and ACC Player of the Year during his senior season at Wake Forest, where his jersey is retired.
247Sports Scouting Report: Howard is an athletic southpaw wing with good positional size, a high-motor, and terrific frame that is undoubtedly going to continue filling out. He attacks the rim, getting downhill in the open court and playing through contact. He rises up to finish and is a lob threat. He also has a translatable shooting stroke and has even shown some flashes of being able to make movement shots. Defensively, he's engaged and excels with his court coverage. There's still room for him to clean up some of his angles, but he has a world of potential both on and off the ball. – Adam Finkelstein