LeBron James' Son Bronny's Return Could Be College Hoops' Biggest Story

Bronny James will be back on the court soon.

On Thursday, the University of Southern California (USC) announced that James, who is Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James' eldest son, has been fully cleared by doctors after a frightening health event this summer.

"Bronny James is now cleared by his doctors for a full return to basketball," the statement from a spokesperson from the family read. "Bronny will have a final evaluation with USC staff this week, resume practice next week, and return to games soon after. The James family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible medical team, the entire USC community, and especially the countless friends, family and fans for their love and support. Fight On!"

In July, Bronny collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while practicing with the USC basketball team. He was rushed to the ICU of a local hospital, where a congenital heart defect was identified as the culprit. LeBron and his wife Savannah later thanked USC's medical staff for acting quickly and preventing scenarios that could have been significantly worse.

Bronny's return is first and foremost, of course, a feel-good story about a young player who can return to basketball after a shocking moment, in addition to a good reminder that athletic facilities should keep defibrillators on hand.

But there are many layers beyond James' return to the floor that make him one of the most interesting stories in college basketball this season.

First, there are the Trojans, who brought in a talented four-star guard expecting him to help them win basketball games. James might not be cleared by Saturday when the Trojans take on No. 11 Gonzaga, but whenever he does return, he will rejoin a 6-2 squad with a chance to make a statement. James doesn't have his father's star power, but scouts have been impressed by his 3-point shooting, athleticism and basketball instincts. He is also an excellent defender, all of which should make him a solid contributor at the NCAA level and above.

Then there's the name, image and likeness (NIL) angle. On the website On3.com's "NIL 100," Bronny ranks above every other college athlete in earning potential, valued at $5.9 million. That number has gone down by nearly $3 million, but the news that he will be back on the floor could change the trajectory.

There's also the fact that NCAA men's basketball doesn't have a huge name this year. The next-highest basketball player on the NIL 100 is Angel Reese at No. 7. Below Reese, the next basketball player is ... Bryce James, who is Bronny's younger brother (and a high school player). Below the James brothers, Hansel Enmanuel (who lost an arm as a child but still became a Division I prospect) is No. 19.

James' teammate Isaiah Collier is one of the top NCAA prospects from an NBA perspective, but Tankathon's Mock Draft only features five NCAA players in its top 10, and just two in the top five (Collier and UConn guard Stephon Castle). This isn't a year with a no-questions-asked No. 1 pick like Anthony Davis, or even a viral superstar like Zion Williamson or next year's biggest name, Cooper Flagg.

James will be watched closely from a draft perspective in part because of his profile, but also because his father has expressed a desire to play with him. In 2023, James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin that he still has "to be on the floor with Bronny."

"Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him. I don't mean like [guarding one another all game]—because he's a point guard and I'm a, at this point now I'm playing center or whatever the team needs from me," James said. "But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure."

College basketball fans, of course, have been watching this season intently no matter who is on the floor. But for anyone looking for a reason to tune in, USC is about to offer a very high-profile one with a feel-good tint.