Arizona’s Magic Leap Into March Madness: Bryce James’ Elite Rookie Triumph Unveiled
The Arizona Wildcats' 6-foot-5 freshman guard hasn't played all year.
Is Bryce James playing in NCAA Tournament? Explaining Arizona freshman's status for March Madness originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Arizona received ideal NCAA Tournament news on Sunday night. After a strong regular season (29 overall record, 16-1 Big 12 record) and showing in the Big 12 tournament (champions), the Wildcats earned the No. 1 seed in the West region and will face 16th-seeded LIU in the Round of 64 on Friday.
The Wildcats have plenty of notable contributors on their roster, including the son of Los Angeles star forward LeBron James, Bryce. Considering the 6-foot-5 freshman has yet to appear in a game with the Wildcats this year, it makes sense why many are eager to know if he’ll be available for the NCAA Tournament. Is Bryce James playing in the NCAA Tournament?
No, James will not compete in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. With James being a developmental player who isn’t prepared to make impactful contributions, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd elected to redshirt him for the 2025-26 college basketball season. "The redshirting decision was just a long play, to give Bryce the most options in his career as his career unfolds," Lloyd said on Feb.