Since taking over Arizona, head coach Tommy Lloyd has been one of the most successful up-and-coming coaches in college basketball, going 112-33 over the course of the last four seasons, making the NCAA Tournament each season, and leading the program to three Sweet Sixteen appearances.
This past season, Lloyd and his program entered a new era of Arizona basketball with the Wildcats leaving the Pac-12 and joining the Big 12 Conference. In UA’s first season in a new conference, the team went 24-13 while finishing third in the conference standings.
Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Carter Bryant (9) reacts against the Oregon Ducks in the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
In the Big 12 Tournament, the Wildcats made it to the conference title game and fell 72-64 to Houston, which would go on to play for the National Title.
Following the end to the season, Arizona lost star guard Caleb Love to graduation and forward Carter Bryant to the NBA Draft where he went No. 14 overall to the San Antonio Spurs.
Plus, Arizona saw two key players in KJ Lewis and Henri Veesaar leave the program and transfer to Power 4 programs.
Despite that, Arizona will be fully loaded again with four key returners in Jaden Badley, Tobe Awaka, Anthony Dell’Orso and Motiejus Krivas. Plus, Lloyd and his staff signed the No. 2 recruiting class, according to 24/7 Sports.
Now, Arizona is locking in on the recruiting trail again and working to put together another high-level class for the 2026 recruiting cycle.
However, this is also the time where coaches begin to look at the 2027 class and start to lay the foundation for their decision dates in the future.
Mar 26, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka (30) during a practice session in preparation for an East Regional semifinal game against the Duke Blue Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Lloyd and his staff always make sure to turn over every rock and even go back to check on the status of high-level recruits across the country to see if they can get a footing in the recruitment.
The No. 1 recruit for the 2027 class is small forward and five-star prospect Bruce Branch lll, who has a 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he plays for Prolific Prep.
Well, while on the road for recruiting, Lloyd and his staff made sure to drop by Prolific Prep, showing that Arizona is highly interested in the talented wing.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
It will be interesting to see when Branch schedules a visit to Tucson sometime for the regular season of college basketball or during the summer of 2026. If so, it shows that the trip to Florida by Lloyd might’ve helped get the Wildcats in the middle of the action for his talents.
With October rolling around the corner, USA Basketball Junior National Team has announced players from the 2027 class that will be invited to mini camp to compete to make the national team.
Mar 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; A ball with a March Madness logo during the first half in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament between the Dayton Flyers and Arizona Wildcats at Vivint Smart Home Arena-Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Gabriel Mayberry-Imagn Images / Gabriel Mayberry-Imagn Images
On that list of 2027 prospects was five-star and Arizona target Branch lll, who will be heading to Colorado, where the camp takes place, and spend Oct. 9-13 trying to impress the staff.
Please be sure to share your thoughts about the Wildcats taking a swing at five-star guard Bruce Branch lll. To do so, follow us on our X account by clicking on the link.