Bryce James may face unexpected redshirt decision at Arizona

Bryce James is preparing for his first college basketball season at the University of Arizona.

There's a chance that it ends up being rather uneventful for LeBron's youngest son, though.

The possibility has been raised that Bryce would redshirt this season.

Nothing has been determined as far as that goes, but it also hasn't been ruled out.

At Big 12 Media Days, head coach Tommy Lloyd called redshirting a "possibility."

He added this: “The reason I say that (redshirting is a possibility) is because I believe in Bryce. If you didn’t believe in somebody, why would you spend extra resources on them or extra time?”

Bryce isn't expected to be a huge contributor as a true freshman regardless.

A season ago, he averaged eight points and four rebounds per game at Sierra Canyon School.

Bryce is 6-foot-5. He played the final two minutes in Arizona's exhibition win over Saint Mary's, splitting his free throws and going just 0-for-1 from the field.

“My job is to respect him as a person and help him with his own journey,” Lloyd said. “And that’s our plan at Arizona. We got no extras. Let’s just help this kid develop into a great young man, and I think that’s what his family wants, and what he wants, and we’re gonna help him with that.”

If Arizona believes Bryce can contribute long term, and that he wouldn't transfer out at the first bump in the road, a redshirt could be the right call. Lloyd still has time to decide on that and whether preserving eligibility in that way could be beneficial in the long run.

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