TUCSON, Arizona -- Bryce James, the younger son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, will make his college debut this fall as a freshman for the University of Arizona men’s basketball team.
James, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard, is a three-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. His older brother, Bronny, played his lone collegiate season at USC during the 2023-24 season before being drafted by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft to play alongside his father.
At his first media session at Arizona on Tuesday, Bryce shared what advice his dad – a four-time NBA champion and 21-time All-Star – gave him as he prepares for the next level of his basketball career.
“Some advice that he’s given me is just working hard and coming in and doing what you do best,” James said Tuesday, according to Eliav Gabay of Sports360AZ. “Making sure if you’re not having some good days, you just always have to stay positive mentality ... maybe (you) miss a shot, maybe get a turnover or something, don’t hang your head down. Always keep your head up. Push through and stay positive.”
James committed to Arizona in January and officially signed in April, according to 247Sports.com. He joins a Wildcats’ star-studded recruiting class of 2025 that ranks third behind No. 2 Houston and top-ranked Duke. James, who ranked as the No. 52 shooting guard in the class of 2025, per 247Sports, also received offers from Ohio State and Duquesne and was recruited by USC.
While it remains unclear how much playing time Bryce will get as a freshman playing at one of the nation’s top programs, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said he and his staff “treat Bryce just like we treat every other guy.”
“He is a 17-year old kid who has really good potential, but he is 17,” Lloyd told 247Sports in June. “He just moved away from home and he is running his own race. Let’s give him some space and let him kind of develop into his own man.
“My hope for him is everybody gives him space and lets him develop into his own version of Bryce James. He is a great young man, so let’s let that come out and not overwhelm him with stuff he has no control over,” he added.
The Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball team will open its 2025-26 season against the University of Florida Gators on Nov. 3 in Las Vegas.
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