In realizing Jordan Bruner was coming to the David Rose Memorial Day Classic, we knew we needed to do a feature on him. The kid is 6’9” with a 7’2” wing span. He can put it on the floor, and has range well beyond the 3-point arc. Bruner also carries a 3.8 GPA and is a great student. However talented Bruner is, we weren’t sure on what angle to use to write the story.
On the one hand, Bruner is just coming back from a knee injury that left him sidelined for his entire junior season. At the beginning of the high school season, Bruner suffered a meniscus tear that forced him out until April. This year was supposed to be the year at Spring Valley High School, he was teamed up with McDonald’s All American PJ Dozier and had high expectations of winning a state championship.
On the other hand, Bruner is the younger brother of former South Carolina Gamecock Ashley Bruner. In fact, Ashley is the entire reason that Jordan even lives in South Carolina. As a senior at Norman High School, in Norman, Oklahoma, Ashley committed to play for South Carolina and her family followed her to Columbia. As a Senior Ashley was voted second team All-SEC and is 4th in school’s history for games played.
At the time of his injury, Bruner had just started to make some noise and create a buzz about himself. As we stated above, the kid has been blessed by the basketball gods with a premier frame. At 6’9” with a 7’2” wing span, Bruner affects the game in multiple areas. When Bruner’s Upward Stars Southeast team goes into a 3-2 zone, the put Bruner at the point. He is able to cut down angles and get into the passing lanes.
Offensively, Bruner is still getting his sea legs back, but so far on the Adidas Gauntlet Bruner is averaging 9 Points, 5.8 Boards, and 2.3 Blocks per game while shooting 43% from beyond the arc. There is no denying his upside, and college programs are starting to see that.
Bruner has long carried a Clemson offer, as they came forward over a year ago. His play since his return from meniscus surgery has also had seen Bruner pick up offers from Yale and Richmond. As more people watch, and he gets further away from injury, expect that offer list to go up. There is a lot to like about Bruner’s game and it is all coming together at the exact right time.