Before Bruce Branch III debuts for BYU this fall, he’ll first represent his country on the international stage.
Branch has been named to USA Basketball’s under-18 men’s national team, BYU announced Wednesday morning.
The five-star freshman and his 11 USA teammates will compete at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup beginning on June 1 in Leon, Mexico.
In his first appearance for Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit earlier this year, Branch played 13 minutes and logged two rebounds, two assists and one block.
Now, Branch will look to help Team USA win its eighth-consecutive gold medal at the Americup.
Of Team USA’s 12 U18 players, Branch is the only one ranked in the top 10 (No. 5) of 247 Sports’ player rankings for the class of 2026. Other notable names on the roster include Miami’s Caleb Gaskins, Illinois’ Quentin Coleman and Kansas’ Taylen Kinney.
According to USA Basketball, Branch averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game as a senior at Prolific Prep last season. He is BYU’s third five-star freshman of the past three years, joining Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Dëmin and potential No. 1 NBA draft selection AJ Dybantsa.