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BYU basketball has earned a commit from yet another 5-star recruit. Here’s who is coming to Provo next.

The Cougars’ recruiting class now ranks 13th in the nation.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young as BYU hosts Pacific, NCAA basketball in Provo on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young as BYU hosts Pacific, NCAA basketball in Provo on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/684b2f12-8528-496e-97cc-4cfa23d2fc8b.jpg Jason Batacao
 | March 3, 2026, 3:05 p.m.

Kevin Young has found his next five-star recruit.

Prolific Prep forward Bruce Branch III announced his intention to commit to BYU over USC on Tuesday. He made his decision on ESPN’s “NBA Today” show with host Malika Andrews.

Branch is rated as the No. 8 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. He was previously the No. 1 recruit in the 2027 recruiting class before he reclassified in November.

With his decision official, BYU’s class now ranks 13th in the nation, according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. The Cougars are also third in the Big 12, just behind Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Branch is joining four-star recruits Dean Rueckert and KJ Perry as the highest-rated players in the Cougars class.

Branch is also the third five-star recruit BYU has landed in consecutive years following the commits of Egor Demin and AJ Dybantsa in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

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