The decision has been made. Bronny James is heading to USC to play college basketball. With only one official visit to a school (Ohio State), USC was not even sure they were in the running for James. But with James living in California, this may prove to be a solid move for all parties involved.
James’ high school career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. While attending powerhouse Sierra Canyon, James dealt with injuries and pressure, unlike most high school kids. For one, it was the pressure of being the son of current NBA legend, LeBron James. On the court side of things, Bronny had to deal with countless injuries while still staving off the media who not only judged his game on his play but judged him due to his last name.
In his senior season, James averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals for a team that finished without a State Title during his time. The other schools on his short list were his hometown Buckeyes and Oregon. Oregon was perceived as a good choice due to the huge NIL deal that Bronny inked with Nike. But in the end, it was the lure of staying close to home that won over.
The question now is, is USC ready for all the attention that follows James? There is no doubt that LeBron will be very visible as well as other celebrities. But will Bronny see the floor? According to one West Coast recruiting expert, James’ arrival may cause more attention to be focused on what’s happening off the court than what’s going on on it.
This is the same kid who had a docuseries covering his high school team. On the court, James will have to fight for minutes with USC already in the process of having a good recruiting class. But this is nothing new for Bronny. It was the same when he first arrived at Sierra Caynon.
While still inconsistent with his production and not possessing elite physical tools to be considered a top-shelf prospect, Bronny James has grown on NBA scouts with his defense, perimeter shooting, feel for the game and the way he contributes to winning by doing the little things on both ends of the floor,” Givony wrote. “To many NBA scouts, James has solidified himself as a clear NBA player down the road.
It’s clear the scouts believe that James could one day make it in the league. As with any other high school player entering college, there are still flaws that must be worked on but with the people he has in his corner, Bronny James is not the kid you would want to bet against.
With LeBron stating that he would love to share the court with his son in the NBA one day, one has to wonder if that is added pressure on the younger James? With LeBron in his 20th season and at the age of 38, how much time does he have? Will Bronny look to play a year or two and leave USC just to fulfill his father’s dream when his game may not be ready for the NBA?
