Oops! Correction: it should be “if this isn’t Illicium”

Helpful link to shape your shrubs. https://www.lowes.com/projects/gardening-and-outdoor/pruning-hedges/project

Information for yellow anise. http://floridata.com/Plants/Illiciaceae/Illicium+parviflorum/969

Since there are no flowers to help narrow down its ID, I could only speculate here. It looks like some thing in the Illicium group (star anise/star ainse tree). It is either I. parviflorum (yellow anise) or I. floridanum (purple anise/Florida anise). The flowers will help confirm if this is Illicum and whether yellow or purple anise. In my humble opinion, shrubs & small flowering trees are often planted too close to walkways & the sides of the house. That requires more upkeep than letting them grow into their natural form, although everyone has their own preferences in landscaping. Check out the yellow anisetree image from the link below. The other two links are for growing culture & prunning. If this is Illicium, when it blooms and you still don’t know, make new post with photo of flowers. Best wishes! https://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5403925