Bryten Close
Bryten Close
About Bryten
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Michael Roth | Prep Hoops Scout
In his last organized basketball game, the future Louisville football linemen played an excellent game for a Taylor County team who surprised some people to make it to Rupp this year. Close is a dominant force on the interior, commanding the middle of Taylor County’s 2-3 zone defense and being a load to stop in the paint offensively. Able to score as a roll man in the pick and roll as well as seal his defender to score with his back to the basket, Grayson County didn’t have anybody the size of Close to slow him down when he caught the ball underneath the rim. Close’s biggest play of the game came when he secured an offensive rebound and kicked it out to a shooter for a crucial second half 3-pointer when the game was slipping away from Taylor County. With a talented 2028 class set to return, don’t be surprised if Taylor County is back to this stage the next few years.
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Read EvaluationSteve Quattrocchi | Prep Hoops Scout
Recovering from a torn labrum that ended his high school basketball season, Close is committed to Louisville for football. On the court, Bryten is a very skilled big man with a high IQ and good hands and feet. Taylor County definitely missed him down the stretch after he had his shoulder surgery.
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Read EvaluationSteve Quattrocchi | Prep Hoops Scout
The most improved big man of the summer, Bryten goes from 32nd to 21st and could be an X Factor in the hotly contested race for the 5th region championship next season. Close is a big body who knows how to carve out space but also has excellent footwork around the bucket. What Bryten lacks in ideal athleticism, he makes up for with IQ and motor.
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Read EvaluationSteve Quattrocchi | Prep Hoops Scout
There may not be a player in Kentucky who has made more strides in the spring AAU season than Close has. After a modest Sophomore season at Taylor County, Bryten has put together a very strong spring of AAU and looks like a future scholarship level big man heading into June.
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Read EvaluationSteve Quattrocchi | Prep Hoops Scout
Bryten has transformed his body and his game since the end of the summer. He’s dropped nearly 25 pounds and improved his overall skill level. Already a good passer, Close appears to be stronger with the ball and being a more active rebounder than he’s shown in the past. With Landon Blakey Landon Blakey 6'7" | PF Adair County | 2026 State KY gone back to LaRue County, Close is likely to be the anchor for the Cardinals in the post and can be a hard cover in the 5th region.
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Read EvaluationDrew Toennies | Prep Hoops Scout
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Read EvaluationMichael Roth | Prep Hoops Scout
An old school big man, Close is a bigger bodied post player who likes to score with his back to the basket. A guy who loves contact, Close will go into the defender and use his body to create space and hit hook shots and fadeaways from the low block. Very skilled with the ball in his hands, Close can also pass it around the court when doubled. One of the more productive bigs in Kentucky’s 2026 class, Close looks like a scholarship prospect with continued development over the next two years.
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Read EvaluationSteve Quattrocchi | Prep Hoops Scout
Bryten was one of the top players at last year’s freshman showcase and will look to impress again on Saturday. When I saw him last month, Close looked more confident in the pick and pop game.
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Read EvaluationMichael Roth | Prep Hoops Scout
One of the bigger prospects at the camp, Close is a unique prospect to watch with his size and offensive versatility. Skilled with the ball in his hands, Close is able to stretch the defense with 3-pointers or passes after the defense keys in on him with the ball in his hands. For Close, the most important development in his game is probably foot speed defensively. For his size, Close moves his feet pretty well right now and will look to continue to be able to hedge and switch when guarding pick and rolls. As a high school player, Close has the size to score at will in the paint and could put up monster numbers this winter.
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Read EvaluationSteve Quattrocchi | Prep Hoops Scout
A true center with old school game, Close has low block scoring skills and knows how to use his body for positioning and finishing through contact. Bryten is a talker on defense who isn’t afraid to quarterback a defense at such a young age. He and Blakey are going to be a big time duo for the next 3 years.
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