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Bronny James’s College Basketball Situation, Explained

Here’s the latest on the high school senior’s options for the next step in his basketball career.

Zach Koons

Bronny James’s College Basketball Situation, Explained
Bronny James’s College Basketball Situation, Explained /

It’s no secret Bronny James is one of the most heavily analyzed basketball prospects since his father emerged from the high school ranks as a fledgling superstar. The eldest son of LeBron James is carving out a name for himself with his own time in the youth ranks of the sport, which has put him on the map as an intriguing college recruit for a possible stint in 2023.

Bronny just put together the latest evidence of his basketball potential with a dazzling performance in the McDonald’s All-American game Tuesday. After putting on a show in Monday’s dunk contest, the high school senior displayed the shooting, playmaking and defense against some of the other top recruits in the country that showed he’s ready to compete at the next level.

However, the question still remains: Where will he play next?

Ballard: LeBron James Wants to Play With His Sons, Bronny and Bryce. Got a Problem With That?

Since LeBron James made it crystal clear he hopes to play with Bronny and his younger son, Bryce, in the NBA, scouts and fans alike have remained fixated on Bronny’s next move. Though the 18-year-old could opt to go straight from high school to the NBA G League, Overtime Elite, an overseas league or any other professional option for the 2023–24 season, his parents say he’s leaning toward college basketball.

“Bronny wants to have a college career,” Savannah James said last summer of her eldest son. “I think it would be really cool for him to start with collegiate basketball, just to start his legacy there.”

LeBron agreed, saying he believes his son “wants to go the college route.”

“I think Bronny can go to any college he wants to,” the Lakers star told Bill Oram of The Oregonian in January. “All I have to do is pick up the phone. If Bronny says he wants to go there, he’s good enough.”

The idea that Bronny wants to pursue a collegiate career was given additional credence when Luca Evans of the Los Angeles Times reported in January that the Sierra Canyon star would choose between Ohio State, USC and Oregon, and that a decision could come as soon as late February or early March after the high school season ends. Bronny confirmed all three schools were among the options shortly after the report emerged, but maintained that his recruitment was still open.

In part because of a stellar senior season at Sierra Canyon, James’s stock continued to rise, which included being upgraded to a five-star recruit by On3 in early March. Though he remains a four-star in rankings from ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports, Bronny garnered further attention nationwide, when he was projected as a top-10 pick in ESPN’s early 2024 NBA mock draft—the first year he would be eligible.

Though the attention swirling around him has continued to increase, Bronny has yet to make a choice on what’s next. His high school career officially came to an end March 7 when his Sierra Canyon team lost in the playoffs, but still, no official decision came out about his commitment in the weeks between his final high school game and his appearance in the McDonald’s All-American showcase.

James will be eligible to enter the NBA draft as early as 2024, meaning he’s just over a year away from possibly playing professionally alongside his father. But, for now, the highly touted prospect has made clear he’ll take his time mulling over options before announcing the next step of his journey.

One thing’s for certain: When Bronny does reveal his plans for the future, the entire basketball world will be watching.

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Zach Koons
ZACH KOONS

Zach Koons is a programming editor at Sports Illustrated who frequently writes about Formula One. He joined SI as a breaking/trending news writer in February 2022 before joining the programming team in 2023. Koons previously worked at The Spun and interned for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He currently hosts the "Bleav in Northwestern" podcast and received a bachelor's in journalism from Northwestern University.

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