Bronny James Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bronny James reportedly down to three schools

By Colum Dell | Last updated 1/20/23

Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is close to deciding his future. According to the Los Angeles Times' Luca Evans, the 6-foot-4 guard will announce his college decision at the end of Sierra Canyon High School's season.

Though unconfirmed, the expectation is that James will take the college route before attempting an NBA career. Evans reports that James has a preferred list of schools, with Ohio State, USC, and Oregon leading the pack for his services.

247Sports ranks James as a four-star recruit and the 34th overall player in the class of 2023. He was initially ranked 30th in his class in 2020, but his ranking fell to 55 in 2022 before a breakout senior season.

Like his father, he has a very high basketball IQ, is a relentless defender, and is a selfless teammate. Although he lacks the athleticism his father had as a high schooler, he has improved his vertical jump to the point where he can now pull off highlight-reel-caliber dunks.

Bronny throwing down a pair of alley-oops!
He got a tech for slapping the backboard on the 2nd one pic.twitter.com/N7qoaqqlHj
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 14, 2023

Bronny James delivered a standout performance at Hoophall Classic, reconfirming his status as one of the best two-way players in high school basketball, a surefire future NBA player and strong first round candidate in 2024. ESPN analysis: https://t.co/xqEQmIsN4k pic.twitter.com/cfQ0VO5EEI
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) January 20, 2023

It'll be worth watching to see if James' personal ties influence his decision. His father is a diehard Ohio State fan who admitted that he would have played for the Buckeyes if he didn't jump straight to the NBA after high school.

James visited Ohio State with his family in September for a football game, his only reported college visit.

USC might be an attractive destination; it's close to home and has Zach Brooker and Kijani Wright, two Sierra Canyon alums, on its roster. It's important to note that James signed a NIL deal with Nike in October; perhaps Nike co-founder Phil Knight could persuade him to attend his alma mater, Oregon.

Ohio State's recruiting class for 2023 ranks sixth in the nation, Oregon comes in at eight, and USC sits at 10, according to 247Sports.

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