Bruce Branch III Shifts to 2026 Class, Emerging as a Leading 2027 NBA Draft Candidate
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Florida prep standout Bruce Branch III has reclassified from the 2027 to the 2026 high-school graduating class, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi reported on November 22. The decision vaults the 6-foot-7 wing into the conversation for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, a class many evaluators consider thinner than 2026.
“I believe in my ability. I am confident that I can do this,” Branch said. “I have been playing up my whole life. I am not going to let anyone outwork me.”
Branch, who turned 17 in October, competes for Prolific Prep in Florida. He has not taken any official campus visits and intends to select a college in the spring. Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, USC, BYU, Arizona, Houston and Miami are viewed as leading contenders for his commitment.
ESPN describes Branch as an NBA-level athlete, citing a 7-foot-2 wingspan, elite speed and explosiveness. Evaluators project him as one of the best three-point shooters in his class and note his high, hard-to-contest mid-range release.
“I want to expand my opportunities,” Branch said of the reclassification. “I know there are challenges with this decision. The mental side is as hard as the physical side.”
Branch’s profile rose during the summer at the Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, where he made the All-Camp Team and captured the Rising Star award while competing against players up to two years older.
An Eastern Conference scout told The Athletic that the move follows the “Cooper Flagg playbook,” adding, “By moving up a year he’s legitimately a top-three prospect, and you can make the case for him being No. 1 overall. He’s a hybrid athlete with IQ, playmaking skills and will be a switchable defender.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
