Arizona Weighs Redshirt for Freshman Bryce James

Arizona freshman guard Bryce James, the youngest son of NBA star LeBron James, has yet to see action in the Wildcats' first three games of the 2025-26 season, as head coach Tommy Lloyd weighs the option of redshirting the 18-year-old to preserve his eligibility and support his development.

The No. 5-ranked Wildcats opened the season with convincing victories, including a 93-67 win over Utah Tech and an 84-49 blowout of Northern Arizona on Tuesday at McKale Center in Tucson. James, a 6-foot-6 three-star recruit from Sierra Canyon High School in California, warmed up before the Northern Arizona game but remained on the bench, even as Arizona built a 29-point halftime lead and used 14 players overall. Lloyd confirmed after the game that the decision stems directly from ongoing discussions about a redshirt year.

"Redshirting is on the table for him," Lloyd told reporters. "That's why he hasn't played in a game yet. Otherwise, he would be playing some minutes in some of these games, especially at the end." The coach emphasized the rigid NCAA rules in men's basketball, which differ from football's allowance for up to four games without burning a redshirt. In basketball, any playing...