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Savannah James, mother of Arizona freshman guard Bryce James, watches him speak to the media inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n
In some ways, that interaction was about as normal as it gets. Bryce wore a hoodie and had a backpack slung over his shoulders. His dad gleefully sang a silly song and gave his younger son a hug.<\/p>\n Being the son of LeBron James comes with a certain set of expectations. Bryce\u2019s older brother, Bronny, preceded him in college basketball and joined the Los Angeles Lakers organization after just one season at USC.<\/p>\n Five hundred miles west, in the relative quietude of Southern Arizona, Bryce James is determined to become the best version of himself, whatever that may be.<\/p>\n Asked if he wanted to get away from the bright lights of Los Angeles, James said: \u201cThat’s not really what I’m focused on. Really just having a full college experience, not really caring about what other people are saying, just locking in.\u201d<\/p>\n James is the most famous member of Arizona\u2019s deep freshman class, but he might be the least likely to have a significant role this season.<\/p>\n Brayden Burries, Koa Peat and Dwayne Aristode are locks for rotation spots. Ivan Kharchenkov probably is, too. James and Mabil Mawut appear to have longer timelines at this point. But that\u2019s OK with James. It\u2019s another reason he wanted to come to Arizona.<\/p>\n Arizona freshman guard Bryce James works on his dribble drive during a partially open practice inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star<\/p>\n \u201cTommy (Lloyd) said that he’s all about player development; he doesn’t really care if you come in here and you’re maybe not doing good your first couple of years,\u201d James said. \u201cHe’s all about development, getting better in practice every day, getting strong in the weight room. That’s … what I’m looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n James, a 6-foot-5 guard who prepped at Sierra Canyon High School in the L.A. area, worked with multiple units during an open practice at Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday. He made some nifty passes but also turned the ball over a handful of times \u2014 typical stuff for a newly arrived freshman.<\/p>\n He had his \u201cWelcome to Arizona moment\u201d earlier this summer.<\/p>\n \u201cRunning into a Tobe Awaka screen,\u201d James said. \u201cBecause he’s about 6-9, 3-something, 2-something.\u201d<\/p>\n Awaka is listed at 6-8, 255. He\u2019s easily Arizona\u2019s bulkiest, strongest player.<\/p>\n Did that collision send James to the floor?<\/p>\n \u201cNah,\u201d he said. \u201cMy fingers might have touched the ground, but my full body didn\u2019t hit the ground. So I was good.\u201d<\/p>\n Arizona freshman guard Bryce James tugs on his jersey while speaking during a news conference inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star<\/p>\n Bryce James\u2019 arrival here didn\u2019t come with as much fanfare as Bronny\u2019s at USC. Geography \u2014 USC\u2019s Galen Center and the Lakers\u2019 Crypto.com<\/a> Arena are about 3 miles apart \u2014 also kept Bronny in the glare of the L.A. spotlight.<\/p>\n But Bryce had\u00a0room in his carry-on for words of wisdom from his famous father, who\u2019s about to embark on his 23rd season in the NBA.<\/p>\n \u201cJust making sure, even if you’re not having some good days, always have the stay-positive mentality,\u201d Bryce James said. \u201cMiss a shot, get a turnover … don’t hang your head down. Always keep your head up. Just push through. Just stay positive.\u201d<\/p>\n Bayern Bulldog<\/p>\n How does someone like Kharchenkov end up at Arizona?<\/p>\n Born in Russia and raised in Germany, Kharchenkov played for the Bayern Munich<\/a> senior team last season. The team won the Bundesliga championship, but Kharchenkov averaged just seven minutes per game. He wanted to play more.<\/p>\n Arizona freshman forward Ivan Kharchenkov shoots the ball during a partially open practice inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star<\/p>\n One of his teammates was Elias Harris, who played at Gonzaga from 2009-13. Lloyd was an assistant for the Bulldogs for 20 years, brought countless international players to Spokane and helped them blossom.<\/p>\n Harris saw it first-hand.<\/p>\n \u201cHe told me great things about him,\u201d Kharchenkov said. \u201cSo I was convinced.\u201d<\/p>\n Kharchenkov\u2019s parents, Alexander and Elena, both played professional basketball. His father was a member of the Soviet Union team that won the world championship in 1974<\/a> and later became a coach.<\/p>\n Ivan tried other sports as a youth, including swimming and soccer. But he didn\u2019t like them as much as basketball. He would tag along with his father \u2014 whom he repeatedly called his \u201cpops\u201d \u2014 to practice as a youth and joined the Bayern Munich program at age 12.<\/p>\n Kharchenkov became a member of the senior team by age 16. He had several mentors, including former Clemson big man Devin Booker, who had two stints with Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n Arizona freshman forward Ivan Kharchenkov speaks during a news conference inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star<\/p>\n \u201cHe definitely took me under his wing,\u201d Kharchenkov said. \u201cHe was like my \u2018on-the-road pops,\u2019 I would say. We really spent a lot of time together. He explained me some adult (stuff), what I should know, what I shouldn’t do, what I should do. So that was really helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n Having played with older pros should help Kharchenkov make a smooth transition to college basketball. Lloyd\u2019s system also has European elements.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s more of a flow … playing off instincts,\u201d Kharchenkov said. \u201cWhen I was playing in Europe I didn’t have plays for me, so everything, when I scored, was off a flow or off reading the game. He said, \u2018It’s gonna be the perfect fit for you here, because that’s all we do.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Mawut and Maluach<\/p>\n The Duke team that defeated Arizona twice last season featured 7-2 center Khaman Maluach, who was picked 10th overall in this year\u2019s NBA Draft and is now a member of the Phoenix Suns.<\/p>\n Mawut accompanied Maluach to the June draft in Brooklyn, New York. The two have experienced similar journeys<\/a>: citizens of South Sudan, raised in Uganda, exposed to big-time pro basketball through the NBA Academy in Senegal.<\/p>\n Arizona freshman forward Mabil Mawut (in red) pushes into forward Koa Peat\u00a0 during a partially open practice inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s my best friend,\u201d Mawut said. \u201cWe initially started playing together … when I started going for the pickup games.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember one night we (were) playing \u2018ones\u2019 (one-on-one). That’s how I got introduced to him. Just built a relationship. We both went to Solid Skills Sports Academy. It’s a local sports academy down there in Uganda that helps kids from grassroots levels to the elite. They helped us through our training and … got us opportunities to be at the NBA Academy together. We have always been great friends since then.\u201d<\/p>\n Maluach was a one-and-done at Duke, where he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game while shooting 71.2% from the floor as a freshman. The Houston Rockets selected him in the draft. He then became part of the Kevin Durant trade<\/a>, officially becoming a Sun a few days later.<\/p>\n Mawut described being at the draft as \u201csurreal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt happened so fast,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it was an amazing experience. It’s something I would love to be (involved in) someday for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Arizona freshman forward Mabil Mawut, left, gets a piece of teammate Koa Peat’s layup attempt during a partially open practice inside Richard Jefferson Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Grace Trejo, Arizona Daily Star<\/p>\n Mawut will need to add strength to carve out a role at Arizona and get in the NBA conversation. He\u2019s listed at 6-11, 200 pounds. Besides Awaka, four other Wildcats are listed at 220 or more, including 7-2, 260-pound center Motiejus Krivas.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring my visit, Coach Tommy already told me about it, how I’m gonna go against these big dudes,\u201d Mawut said. \u201cSo my mindset was ready for that, and I was ready to go. He told me it’s going to be a great learning experience for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Contact sports reporter\/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com<\/a>. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social<\/p>\n Be the first to know<\/p>\n Get local news delivered to your inbox!<\/p>\n
\n Grace Trejo
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