Arizona and head coach Tommy Lloyd have had an up-and-down 2026 recruiting cycle. The Wildcats started hot, securing a commitment from four-star small forward Cam Holmes. However, Arizona missed out on its top target when five-star power forward Cam Williams ultimately chose Duke.
Now it seems the Wildcats are once again falling behind on a key target, as another five-star forward that Arizona has been targeting reportedly has more interest in other schools.
Wildcats’ Losing Ground on Five-Star Foward
On Nov. 25, Arizona on SI reported that Bruce Branch III, a five-star small forward who plays for Prolific Prep High School in Florida and is from Gilbert, Arizona, would be reclassifying from the 2027 class to the 2026 class.
NEWS: Bruce Branch III, the No. 1 player in the class of 2027, has reclassified to the Class of 2026, he tells @247Sports. Story: https://t.co/MRN1W5TRREpic.twitter.com/ShhxvKpuZh
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) November 22, 2025
Branch had previously been ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2027 class, and with his reclassification to 2026, he remained a five-star recruit. Rivals’ industry rankings list him as the No. 5 overall player nationally, the No. 2 small forward prospect…