After a season at USC, it appears that Bronny James is considering entering the transfer portal. The rumors of James’s intention to transfer were sparked by Dick Weiss who posted a tweet saying as much but then deleting it saying that he can’t confirm if he actually will.
“can’t confirm Bronny James story guys,” he posted on his X account. “Still think its an idea whose time has come. make sense if it happens. I love the kid, think he could be a star elsewhere.”
In postgame comments obtained by ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin, his father LeBron James Sr. appeared to question the validity of the rumors but did say that his son had to make some tough decisions soon.
“I don’t where [the report] came from, but at the end of the day Bronny is his own man,” James said in the quote obtained by McMenamin. “He has some tough decisions to make and when he’s ready to make those decisions he’ll let us all know. But as his family, we’ll support whatever he does.”
Bronny James’s North Star has always appeared to be heading to the NBA as a one-and-done player but his freshman season wasn’t as eye-popping as some would’ve hoped. Although Bronny showed immense skill and NBA-level talent, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 25 games played. James started his season on December 10th vs. Long Beach State after recovering from a cardiac arrest he suffered from during a July workout.
If James ultimately wants to stay in the college ranks for another year or two to build upon his game and create a broader buzz for himself and his abilities before going to the NBA, he should consider an HBCU. HBCU basketball has a storied history, boasting legends and NBA standouts like Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Willis Reed, Rick Mahorn, and Ben Wallace. HBCUs have found success in the current NIL and transfer portal era of basketball, attracting talented student-athletes that put them in a position to be competitive in out-of-conference matchups.
HBCUs wouldn’t be a step down as many would argue. If James transferred to an HBCU, he’d have ample time to play against FBS and Power Five opponents, showcasing his skill against what is considered “competitive” talent at the start of the season as well as in the NCAA tournament. Imagine if the HBCU that Bronny James hypothetically transferred to beat Kansas, Duke or UNC. Imagine if James was the catalyst behind those victories. He’d be celebrated, not just as a top NBA prospect who’s the son of LeBron James but as a black athlete who is showing the world that you still can make it from an HBCU.
He isn’t obligated to be a change-maker or trailblazer. Taking on the responsibility of choosing to attend an HBCU, which would bring as much scrutiny as it would scrutiny, is a decision he must willingly make. But, if he did decide to attend an HBCU, he has plenty of options. Here are a few he should consider.
Florida A&M
Florida A&M is clearly a top choice for Bronny James to consider among HBCUs. The Rattlers have a significant six-year partnership with LeBron James Sr. and Nike, outfitting all 14 athletic programs and the Marching 100 band in LeBron James signature gear from Nike. James landing at Florida A&M and rocking his father’s apparel would be poetic justice on a level unimaginable.
Florida A&M boasts a storied athletic legacy, yet has faced challenges in basketball lately. Head coach Robert McCullum is leaving after a promising start in 2017, which turned tumultuous as the Rattlers struggled to maintain their winning ways. Flordia A&M is currently engaged in a national search to find its next head coach. If the Rattlers make the right coaching choice, James should certainly consider heading to Tallahassee and rocking the citrus orange and agricultural green.
James would draw a lot of attention for committing to Flordia A&M, which is one of the most recognizable HBCU brands in the nation. He’d also have the opportunity to play against Power 5 contenders. Last year, the Rattlers faced off against Creighton, Nebraska, Florida, Oregon, Iowa, Iowa State, and South Carolina. That’s an ambitious out-of-confernce schedule, one that is befitting of an NBA prospect.
With a coach that is equipped to build out the program and the right recruits and transfer portal editions, Florida A&M with Bronny James would be an interesting team that could pose a threat during March Madness.
North Carolina Central
Bronny James transferring to North Carolina Central would be an amazing story, seeing the fact that the Eagles offered him a scholarship back in 2020 when he was 15 years old. At the time, the move drew backlash and NCCU coach Levelle Moton responded in comments obtained by Andscape, then known as “The Undefeated”, at the time.
“Let me break it down for you a little bit here, and this is just how I look at it,’’ Moton said to Andscape. “In the year 2020, we have people that will get uptight because a black coach offered a black kid the opportunity and the means to attend a black college. A black coach offered an opportunity to play basketball at a black school – and he will be criticized by black people.”
If James were to decide to transfer to an HBCU he should consider playing for Moton, who is one of the best coaches in college basketball that is known for protecting his players and being an amazing ambassador for HBCU sports. Moton led the Eagles to massive success, winning four MEAC tournament titles and four March Madness appearances in his 15 years at the helm of the program. With Moton’s coaching and the talent that NCCU attracts, North Carolina Central would be competitive immediately if James decided to transfer.
Not to mention that Bronny would still be able to show his skills against top-ranked programs. The Eagles played then top-ranked Kansas in the McLendon Classic to start the season, losing 99-56. Then, they faced off against Georgia and Virginia. If Bronny joined the team, I’m sure that they’d schedule even more tough out-of-conference matchups and possibly notch a few victories.
Jackson State
It’s a real argument that Jackson State would be the top hypothetical landing spot for Bronny James. While Florida A&M is in a partnership with his father and North Carolina Central actively recruited him, Jackson State has Mo Williams as their head coach. Williams knows LeBron James Sr. very well, having won a championship with him in 2016 and being the second-best player on the late 2000s Cavaliers teams before James Sr. left to take his talents to South Beach.
Williams has put together an impressive roster and has already led the Tigers to big victories. This season, Jackson State pulled off a big 73-72 victory over Missouri and then a 75-71 victory over Arkansas State. Williams is building something great with the Tigers and the addition of Bronny James would make them even more competitive. They also faced Memphis, Georgetown, Gonzaga, and Houston so Bronny would once again be in a landing spot where he would be able to play competitive teams during the regular season as well as if the team made a NCAA tournament run.
Norfolk State
If Bronny James wanted to land on a team that is ready to truly take the next step, he should consider Norfolk State. Under the leadership of Robert Jones, Norfolk State has become one of HBCU basketball’s prolific programs. They won back-to-back MEAC Championships in 2021 & 2022 as well as two March Madness births. Recently, the Spartans won the 2024 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament after beating Purdue Fort Wayne 75-67. Norfolk State is ready to take the next step as a mid-major program that could make a run at a National Championship.
Also of note, the Spartans boast Kyle O’Quinn as a player who went on to have a thriving career in the NBA. Although Jones wasn’t the head coach during O’Quinn’s time with the program, serving as an assistant until 2013, O’Quinn was a star for the Spartans and helped them make history by taking down second-ranked Missouri in the opening round of the 2012 March Madness tournament. O’Quinn then was drafted out of Norfolk State by the Orlando Magic with the 49th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
If James considered playing for Norfolk, he’d be joining a great basketball tradition that has seen success in recent memory. They also have success out of conference, beating a competitive Virginia Commonwealth University team 63-60 and scheduling Tennessee, although they lost 87-50. Norfolk State would be another place for James to showcase his skills.
Howard University
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without the two-time defending MEAC Champion Howard University Bison. There are so many options that would work well for Bronny James if he considered transferring to an HBCU, such as SWAC Champion Grambling, but Howard already has a recent history of pulling in big-time recruits and transfers.
Five-star prospect Makur Maker before leaving the program chose to play for Howard over Kentucky, UCLA, and Memphis. Former Ohio State and Harvard University standout Seth Towns made headlines by choosing to play his final year of eligibility for Howard University, being a big-time playmaker for the Bison as they made their run to the MEAC Championship in the First Four against Wagner. Star contributor Marcus Dockery played for Maryland before transferring to Howard.
Kenny Blakeney, a Duke basketball alumnus, is turning around Howard’s program and turning them into a perennial winner. Bronny James could be a great addition to the winning equation, giving them another playmaking guard who can find his own shot while also creating opportunities for others.
Let’s not forget that Howard was competitive in their out-of-conference slate. They nearly beat Georgia Tech and Cincinnati early in the season as well as a close loss to Yale. A talented player like James could be a catalyst to changing the outcomes of those matchups, getting signature wins that work in increasing the basketball profile of Howard while also maintaining James’s draft stock.
The post HBCUs Bronny James should consider transferring to appeared first on ClutchPoints.
