Where does Bryce James go to college? Explaining redshirt year for LeBron James' son at Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats have made a run to the Sweet 16 this season as one of the best teams across college basketball.

Tommy Lloyd's unit lost just two games in the regular season, coasting to a No. 1 seed in March Madness thanks to star names like Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. The Wildcats, however, also have a big name that hasn't been on the court in 2025-26.

Guard Bryce James, the son of NBA legend and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, has been on Arizona's team this season, but hasn't played.

Here's what to know about James' time at Arizona so far, why he hasn't made an appearance and more.

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Where does Bryce James go to college?

James attends the University of Arizona, to which he committed to in January 2025. His first season with the Wildcats came in 2025-26, but he has not appeared in a game.

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Why did Bryce James redshirt?

James decided to use a redshirt for the 2025-26 season in February. He had yet to appear in a game for Arizona at the time, officially making the choice to protect his future eligibility.

“The redshirting decision was just a long play, to give Bryce the most options in his career as his career unfolds,” Lloyd told the Big 12 Network of James' redshirt, per NBA.com. “I have real strong belief that Bryce will be a contributor at Arizona in the near future. He’s really shown a lot of progress, not only learning our system but just physically maturing.”

Bryce James gets shots up at practice ahead of Arizona's first-round matchup with LIU in the NCAA Tournament on Friday. pic.twitter.com/1bd2mhE2Vd

Is Bryce James good?

James, listed at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds by Arizona, was considered a solid college prospect, but not in any way elite. He's expected to become a contributor to the Wildcats in the future, but he also wasn't on the same level as top-ranked recruits like Burries and Peat, who have been immediate stars for Arizona.

James, a guard, is considered to have strong physical tools by scouts, including his size. 247Sports' Adam Finkelstein wrote in his 2023 evaluation of James that he "may not be the dynamic athlete or playmaker some expect at first, but he is a fundamentally sound player with solid perimeter size and a good early skill-set." 

James is considered to have strong potential as a spot-up shooter, but has also been viewed as more of a project than other players from his recruiting class. 

For now, it's hard to tell what kind of player James can be at the college level, as he and Arizona are focused on his long-term development.

Bryce James stats

James has yet to post any college stats, as he hasn't appeared in a game. However, he did play four years at Sierra Canyon High School, averaging eight points and four rebounds per game as a senior, per his Arizona page.

In the Spalding Hoophall Classic, James had 16 points, five rebounds and four steals to earn MVP honors, and at the Nike EYBL circuit with Strive For Greatness in 2024, he averaged 6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and shot 36% from the 3-point line over 14 games.

SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

Bryce James college recruiting

According to the 247Sports Composite, which uses consensus rankings, James was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2025. He was ranked as the No. 324 overall player, the No. 55 shooting guard and the No. 28 player from California in the class.

James was considering offers from Arizona, Ohio State and Duquesne during his recruiting, with the Buckeyes and Dukes having closer roots to the James family's beginnings in Akron, Ohio.

However, James announced in January 2025 that he was joining the Wildcats under Tommy Lloyd. 

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Arizona basketball roster 2026

While James hasn't suited up for Arizona this season, that's partially due to a loaded roster that includes top-tier freshman in Peat and Burries.

Here's a look at Arizona's 2025-26 roster: