Joseph Bruce @jojobruce07 IG: @jt_bruce10
6ft, 175lbs, c/o 25
Pine Lake Prep High School , NC
Joseph is a dynamic dual-threat sniper with a smooth touch from downtown. He is nasty getting downhill in attack mode off the bounce. However, his calling card is certainly the spot-up three. Joseph. made the varsity team as a freshman and was undersized so he was the designated catch-and-shoot kid in the corner because he had not developed yet. Joseph has worked hard over the last year as he has grown and gotten stronger to be a more complete guard. He has a clear understanding that being undersized he has to outwork everyone on the floor to get the respect for all he brings. Joseph feels it’s been awesome to develop his playmaking skills to go along with his shooting. Another element Joseph has always focused on is his defense. Joseph takes a lot of pride in stopping his man and disrupting the other team’s offense. He has established grit and passion to outwork everyone. Which propelled him to lead his conference in steals. He took a lot of pride in earning that achievement.
Playing AAU for Riptide 2025 Joseph has focused on improving his dribbling under pressure and scoring around the rim. Joseph has been undersized his entire life and wasn’t used to dribbling or scoring around the rim. He used that as motivation to expand his skill set. Joseph was just a shooter now he has evolved into a more complete player - dribble and score around the basket with no fear.
This past season Joseph earned CSAC All-Conference and Team Defensive MVP and was voted one of the top shooters in the state. Joseph's goal for next season is for his Pine Lake Team to first win their conference knowing if they are able to do that, he will have won the conference all four years of his high school career in different schools. Joseph thinks that would be his proudest moment. Joseph isn't sure if anyone has done that before in the CSAC. However, that's finishing in style either way. Beyond that, Joseph wants Pine Lake to make a deep run in the State playoffs. Getting to the Final Four game his sophomore year and missing out on playing at UNC-Chapel Hill by one game has made Joseph hungry to want to get back there and this time make it to that championship game.
Joseph relishes the role of being the underdog having played so many games where his Riptide team was undersized and overlooked. Then seeing the look on the players' faces after they beat them is his favorite part. One time when they were 13U, they played up against a 14U team that was supposed to be pretty good. Their Coach before the game said something about why the tournament director was giving them weak competition. They were bigger, faster, and stronger than them but they kept the game close in the first half early in the second half the Riptide built a 20-point lead and a fight broke out amongst themselves. It was crazy as Joseph looked back! The ref stopped the game and the Riptide took a picture in front of the scoreboard with huge grins on our faces.
Coach Dunbar and Joseph's Riptide coach (his Dad) have instilled in him the “next play” attitude. When Joseph is playing, you can’t tell by his demeanor if his team is up 10 or down 10. If Joseph's teammate makes a mistake, he is going to bust it back on D to try to get the ball back and pick him up. Joseph's teammates do the same for him. Joseph has been fortunate to have success in high school (his conference record in HS is 40-3). He has had plenty of “learning opportunities” too. Joseph knows it’s a cliche but he is either winning or he is learning. Joseph is not going to be discouraged no matter what happens out there and he is going to learn from his mistakes and keep moving forward.
Joseph thinks there are a couple of things that set him apart. One, Joseph is comfortable without the ball in his hands and he knows he can still have an impact on the game. A backdoor cut for a layup or a flare screen for a 3 is more gratifying to Joseph than going and beating his man 1 v 1. Joseph feels fortunate that his Riptide team plays that way, they move the ball and look to exploit an angle or a weak spot, it doesn’t matter which of them is doing it. Also, Joseph is going to play hard and outwork his competition. Joseph says when you’re a 6-foot guard, you don’t have any margin for missing assignments. Joseph has to box out to secure the rebound while having to move his feet to take a charge. It’s the only way Joseph knows how to play this game and it’s so rewarding when he knows that he has given everything he has to help his team win.
Joseph doesn't spend much time thinking about what level he will play in college. Joseph knows that will work itself out so he is much more interested in what kind of program he will play in. Joseph is still growing, still developing and he wants to invest the next 4 years in working his tail off to see how good he can be. Joseph wants to be in a program where the players are like a family away from home. Joseph's Dad played college basketball and some of his best friends still to this day are his basketball teammates. That is what Joseph wants, to go to battle with his basketball brothers. Joseph wants to play for a coach who values hard work and pushes them to be their best versions of themselves on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.
My assessment is that Joseph has a fiery edge that will help excel anywhere he chooses. His dog mentality defense separates him from others. Adding in his shooting ability, passion for learning, and growth makes him a high-level steal for some lucky coach. We can expect another monster season from Joseph that will set the tone for his next-level home. Never let the size of the dog in the fight fool you, it's the size in the fight of the dog that determines the outcome. Joseph loves and thrives at being overlooked, doubted, and uses that to push him to another level to leave the doubters wondering where he came from. Joseph is a proven and tested leader who knows how to win. Stay tuned!
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