HS Hoops Recruiting Analyst Breaks Down Bronny James’ Chances Of Becoming An NBA Prospect

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Bronny James isn’t just the oldest son of LeBron James, but, ever since he first stepped foot on a basketball court in public, he’s also become an Internet sensation, with everyone wondering if the young king could become, dare I say, the second-coming of his famous dad. While that’s a tall task to ask — and lots of pressure on the teenager — if there’s anyone who can give a blueprint on how to handle the high expectations, it’s Bronny’s dad, who became a national phenomenon at age 15.

Set to enter high school in a few months, LeBron James broke down what Bronny James’ high school team will be getting in the kid, breaking down the kind of teammate and leader he’ll be for Sierra Canyon, where Bronny will be playing with Dwyane Wade’s son, Zaire Wade.

While it’s easy for a dad to tout his own son, even if it is LeBron James, the question is what other people see in Bronny James. Is the soon-to-be high school freshman really the next chosen one? Does he have the skills to, not only become a future D-1 player and/or star, but a future NBA player? It’s probably still way too early to tell, but at least one high school recruiting analyst, Corey Evans of Rivals.com, offered some insight as to what we might expect from Bronny over the next few years. Here’s what Evans had to tell Yahoo! Sports.

One simple question is being asked, from NBA front offices to college recruiters to the grassroots scene: How good of a player is Bronny?

That simple question comes with a flurry of complex answers. Opinions gathered from respected voices in the recruiting, grassroots and college game offered an array of perspectives. The essence of their answers was that Bronny is a talented prospect with much to improve upon before coronating him a sure-fire NBA prospect.

“I haven’t closely evaluated him yet,” said Rivals.com recruiting analyst Corey Evans, who will begin looking hard at the entire Class of 2023 this year. “But from a quick glance, he’s made significant progressions over the last year in terms of skill set, improving as an athlete and getting bigger, taller and stronger. You hate to project four or five years in advance, but right now everything adds up to him definitely being an NBA prospect.”

While that definitely sounds promising, the Yahoo! Sports piece continued by detailing some of the other info they’ve heard from various recruiting analysts, with a few wondering if Bronny James would even be on anyone’s radar if he weren’t LeBron James’ son.

Those optimistic about Bronny’s future attach their analysis to his physical tools, advanced floor game and the potential for elite genetics to catapult him into a higher echelon. He’s already 6-foot-2 with long arms and a frame that hints at more growth. He’s described as a top 25-type prospect in his current class who has yet to show consistent alpha traits. (Top 25 would be general, as it’s too early for quality rankings to be put together for incoming freshmen.)

Those more cautious about evaluating his game say he should be considered only a top 50 prospect in his current class. They say if his name was Bronny Smith and he lived in Joplin, Missouri, he wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar.

There’s only one LeBron James, so to expect (or even think) that Bronny James will be his equal is insane. Just being mentioned as a top-50 player in his class right now is high praise, and, with four years of high school coming up — and physical and mental growth to follow — who knows how good Bronny will be? One thing’s for sure, though, if the kid becomes a legit NBA prospect by the time his high school days are over, his dad’s already talked about the desire to try and play in the league with him, so we’ll have to see if the four-time league MVP gets his wish.

(H/T Yahoo! Sports)