BYU Lands 5-Star Forward Bruce Branch

0:00On March 4, BYU just landed a huge recruiting win with five star-forward Bruce Branch III, committing to the Cougars. The top 10 prospect in the class of 2026 made his announcement on March 3 during an ESPN show. He's a standout from prolific prep, already a McDonald's All-American, with elite rankings as the number 3 small-forward nationally. Branch reclassify from the class of 2027, putting him on track for the NBA draft in 2027. He chose BYU over other big programs like USC, drawn to their basketball focus and strong academics. This move continues, BYU's hot streak under head coach Kevin Young. Young has now pulled in a five-star recruit for the third straight year. His first was Igor Demen, taken eighth overall in the 2025 draft. Last year came AJ DeBonza, the nation's top scorer at 24.8 points per game and a lock for a top 3 pick next year. For Iowa State and other big 12 teams, this ramps up the pressure.

1:04The cyclones have built a solid roster through smart recruiting, but BYU's NIL Edge and NBA Pipeline make matchups tougher. Iowa State hasn't beaten the Cougars since Young took over. Branch could anchor BYU's lineup soon, giving them another pro-level talent in a stacked conference. Expect this to shake up big 12 battles even more as these stars hit the court.