For Brayde Kuykendall, the dream of playing Division I basketball became real when Santa Clara offered him his first scholarship.

“It was surreal. It was a dream come true,” Kuykendall said.

UC Santa Barbara and Montana are also closely monitoring him progress and could be major pieces to his recruiting story in the future.

The California High School (CA) standout, who also plays for Soldiers Arsenal on the AAU circuit, is hungry and has been fighting his way onto college coaches radar. Last basketball season, Kuykendall helped guide California High to its second-ever appearance in the state tournament, advancing to the 2025 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships in Division I.

Kuykendall’s versatility is what sets him apart—something college coaches have taken notice of.

“My ability to impact the game on all levels—driving, shooting, passing, rebounding,” Kuykendall said when asked what coaches like most about his game.

That well-rounded skill set was on full display during the recent Nike EYBL Session II in Memphis, where Kuykendall poured in 25 points and pulled down seven rebounds in a game against Mac Irvin Fire.

“I feel like I’ve played pretty good so far,” Kuykendall said of his summer.

He’ll continue showcasing his game at Cali Live in June, where he’ll suit up with his high school team.