Breaking News: Bruce Branch Chooses BYU Basketball Team

The Reality: BYU’s Actual 2026 Recruiting Class

While the headline appears to be fictional, BYU has assembled one of the best recruiting classes in program history under head coach **Kalani Sitake**. The Cougars’ 2026 class currently ranks **No. 21 nationally** and **No. 2 in the Big 12** according to 247Sports Composite rankings .

The class includes 21 high school signees with an average composite rating of 89.00, the highest average score ever for a BYU recruiting class . Remarkably, all 21 recruits signed during the early signing period in December, demonstrating the strong relationships and trust built during the process .

### 🏆 The Actual Crown Jewels

The headliners of BYU’s 2026 class are legitimate top-tier prospects:

**Ryder Lyons**, a four-star quarterback from California and the 2024 California Gatorade Player of the Year, committed to BYU in August 2025 after receiving offers from USC, Oregon, and several other Pac-12 programs . The 6-foot-3, 205-pound signal-caller threw for over 3,500 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior and is rated as the **No. 45 overall player** in the nation .

**Brock Harris**, a four-star tight end from St. George, Utah, committed to BYU in July 2025 over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and USC . The 6-foot-6, 235-pound pass-catcher is rated as the **No. 52 overall player** nationally and the **No. 2 tight end** in the class .

### 🤝 The Pula Twins: In-State Victory

Twin brothers **Jaron and Kennan Pula** from Lone Peak High School chose BYU over in-state rival Utah, representing a significant recruiting victory for the Cougars .

Jaron Pula, a four-star wide receiver, finished his prep career with more than **1,800 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns** . His brother Kennan, a versatile athlete who played both receiver and defense, is projected to play in the defensive backfield for the Cougars .

### 📈 More Than Just High School Recruits

The 2026 “class” for BYU extends far beyond the 21 high school signees. The program also added significant talent through nine transfer portal additions and eight returned missionaries who enrolled in January .

The transfer additions include highly-rated players like linebacker **Cade Uluave** (Cal), the top-rated transfer linebacker, and tight end **Walker Lyons** (USC) . The returned missionaries, including quarterback **Enoch Watson** and several defensive players, are expected to provide immediate depth for the 2026 season .

### 🌟 Looking Ahead

For BYU fans, this recruiting cycle is a testament to the program’s stability under Kalani Sitake. Following a 12-win season and a Big 12 Championship game appearance in 2025, the Cougars have proven they can recruit at a level never before seen in program history .

While there may not be a fictional “Bruce Branch III” joining the program, the actual talent headed to Provo should provide a strong foundation for years to come. The Cougars are scheduled to begin spring practice this month, where several of these newcomers will get their first taste of college football.