based on the staking.. it looks like a new transplant ...

if so.. no canopy pruning for at least a year or two ...

you need to grow a root mass to get the tree established ... and every leaf is an energy making machine.. so do go cutting any off for now ...

tree time i counted in decades ... what your hurry with this one ...

how about a pic fop the whole plant ...

there is what you 'can' do ... then what you 'should' do.. and then.. then 'when' you should do it ... applying such ... yeah.. you can ... should you.. meh.. maybe ... when.. in a year or two ...

and to be clear.. once established.. and you have a little more experience with this plant.. yes.. it would be very simple to snip them off when they are this small ... and the roots will be all set.. and the plant established.. so knock yourself out ..

ken

Easiest to trim off the bottom-most one.

Except those small twiggy ones aren't going to become large branches later. And in the meantime are helping the tree feed itself.

Just think, the tree needs those branches now but everyone below your hip level and in most yards, every branch below head level will be removed naturally or through purining.

I would say not to cut any of the double branches off because I believe this is the natural way black gums tree grow. Mine have the same branching structure. Beside a new one will grow right back in the same spot. Don't ask me how I know.

The only thing I’d cut is that stake tie. Appears to be a bit tight.

tj