A New Chapter for a Rising Star
Will Brunson, a 6‑foot‑6 wing projected as one of the top prospects in the 2028 class, has announced his move to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a campus long celebrated for its basketball pedigree.
The transfer follows a standout season at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey, where he posted averages of 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, earning MaxPreps sophomore All‑America second‑team honors and a place on the All‑America first team.
A Recruiting Landscape Re‑shaped
Brunson’s recruitment profile reads like a wish list for college programs: offers from Indiana, Louisville, Auburn, Providence, Syracuse, Villanova, Kansas and a host of others line his scholarship sheet, with Syracuse among the most recent to re‑extend a full scholarship.
At IMG, he will join a program that has historically served as a launchpad for talent that later wears the orange and blue at Syracuse University, with alumni such as Jesse Edwards, Donnie Freeman and Sadiq White Jr. having made the transition to the university’s roster.
IMG Academy’s Legacy and Current Momentum
The academy, which was a Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic member until the most recent season, posted a 20‑9 record in the 2025‑26 campaign and continues to attract the nation’s elite under the guidance of head coach Gerry McNamara and senior staffer Adrian Autry.
Beyond the prep‑school circuit, Brunson currently competes for the New York City‑based Renaissance Hoops in the EYBL, where he is averaging 4.6 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the free‑throw line.
Grassroots basketball’s two live periods later this month will provide a fresh stage for the 2028 standout, who is ranked within the top 30 nationally by multiple recruiting services and is expected to be a key target for Syracuse’s 2028 recruiting class.
A Destination With History
IMG Academy, located in Bradenton, Florida, is widely regarded as one of the most influential independent basketball academies in the country. Its partnership with Nike and its storied alumni network have made it a magnet for prospects seeking exposure at the highest level of high‑school competition.