AJ Dybantsa is heading to the NBA Draft and for BYU, it has always meant that they needed to replace him with a player who could live up to hype that’s similar to the talented Dybantsa.
While replacing him was never going to be an easy task, the Cougars have done well to recruit one of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class in Bruce Branch III. Under coach Kevin Young, Branch is expected to take big strides in his career, moving up from the 5-star recruit status into a proper player that can hopefully one day be NBA ready.
The teenager was recently interviewed at a Team USA U18 game where he detailed his decision behind signing for BYU.
“On my visit the first thing I really noticed – the mountains are beautiful out there but mainly just the people out there, so respectful so kind, so caring of one another,” he said.
“One of it was the people just to make me a better person because the basketball is going to be there but for me and for my mom, she taught me when I was younger be the best person you can. Treat others how you want to be treated and that’s what I’m most excited about.”
Bruce Branch III Has Some Big Shoes to Fill
There’s no doubt that Bruce Branch III will make his own name and identity in the college basketball world, but as of now, the world sees him as the young man replacing a BYU icon in AJ Dybantsa.
Dybantsa’s consistency was one of the things that stood out in his short stint at the University, and if Branch wants to become one of BYU’s own, he’ll have to follow suit and find a way to perform whenever there’s a big game for the team. And with the right mentors around, his path to success looks all but clear.
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