Bryce James and Tajh Ariza — Bryce Bryce (Left) and Tajh Ariza(Right) (Images via Getty)

LeBron James' son Bryce James vs. Trevor Ariza's son Tajh Ariza: Who's the better high school hooper?

Modified Dec 10, 2024 18:01 GMT

Bryce James and Tajh Ariza are both high school prodigies and offsprings of NBA stars LeBron James and Trevor Ariza, respectively. Both have proven to show colossal potential, encouraging debates and comparisons within the basketball community concerning their basketball skills and prospects.

Bryce James: A sharpshooting prospect

Bryce James at the Chosen-1's Invitational 2023 (Source: Getty)

Born on June 14, 2007, Bryce James is a 6'6" shooting guard who’s attending Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. His high school career started at Sierra Canyon, then transferred to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, and eventually returned to Sierra Canyon.

In the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), Bryce James has delivered a stellar performance. He had a game where he notably scored 21 points against a team whose roster includes Cameron Boozer, son of ex-NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.

During the Peach Jam tournament, he managed to average 8.3 points across four matches for Strive for Greatness 16U during the event. Scouts have affirmed Bryce James’ talents and have recognized him as a prospective talent. On3.com has listed him as a four-star prospect and sits as the 100th player in the Class of 2025.

Currently, he holds scholarship offers from Ohio State and Duquesne universities. However, he recently made an unofficial visit to the University of Arizona, which might indicate that he's still open to other offers.

Tajh Ariza: A two-way small forward

Ariza, born on March 25, 2008, is a small forward standing at 6'7" and currently exhibiting his talents at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California. Being the son of a former NBA player, Ariza inherited the physical prowess and the basketball IQ of his father, making him one of the most watched prospects in high school basketball.

He has attended several high-profile camps like the USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp and the Jayson Tatum Elite Camp, to name a few, to showcase his game to the community.

Showing up on the Nike EYBL E15 circuit, Ariza averaged 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. At the Peach Jam tournament, he averaged 13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.

Ariza has an impressive recruitment profile. ESPN rated him as a four-star recruit and ranked him as number seven on the national level from the Class of 2026. He received offers from several schools, such as Arizona State, Arkansas, Kansas, UCLA, UNLV, and USC, among others.

His options remain open as nothing appears to be clear-cut among the frontrunners who have already made their offers. Ariza has mentioned that he would consider programs anywhere in the country, saying, "I just want to go to the place that best fits me."

Who wins? James versus Ariza

At the moment, Ariza holds the advantage with his all-round and physical game, but with James's shooting efficiency and steady improvement, Ariza had better watch out because the gap wouldn't be there for long. Both have bright futures ahead of them and how they develop will decide who will take the edge in the long term.