Draft Profile: Jaylen Brown

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Jaylen Brown was one of the most coveted recruits from the high school class of 2015, having averaged 28.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game as a senior at nationally ranked Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga. He played one season at the University of California, Berkeley, where he raised eyebrows with his extreme athleticism, and was ultimately named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

Possessions Scouted from 2015-16 Season:
OFFENSE: 15.3 percent of possessions
DEFENSE: 24.3 percent of possessions

Jaylen Brown is a playmaking wing who is a natural slasher. He reminds me quite a bit of 2015 prospect Stanley Johnson, except that Johnson had a stronger build and a more consistent shot, while Brown is much more dangerous off the dribble. Brown possesses supreme body control and balance and is a downhill player. Those are critical traits to NBA stardom. I can see him punishing smaller defenders in the post. He has a great handle, has multiple moves off the dribble, and has great anticipation. His slashing instincts are elite. He reads and reacts quickly, which also helps him in the rebounding department. There is no question about whether or not he’ll be able to create his own shot at the next level, but what will he do once he gets those shots? He is not yet a great finisher, but he has a knack for getting to the line, which is important. His hands are not strong. He’s a mediocre shooter and his free throw percentage makes me question how much that shot will improve. However, if he can improve his finishing ability and become a consistent threat from 17-25 feet, he will become a high-level scorer in the NBA. Brown’s fantastic footwork/foot speed and anticipation make him a versatile defender. He has great instincts at this end as well. He will be able to defend guards, swings and wings on the perimeter. He has a high motor and gives great effort. The only question at the defensive end is whether or not he will be able to defend stronger small forwards or handle switches onto power forwards down low. He has the potential to turn into a versatile two-way star if he irons out the kinks and reaches his full potential.

Jaylen Brown was born on Oct. 24, 1996 in Marietta, Ga. to Marcelles and Mechalle Brown. He has one brother Quenton, who played Division I football at the University of North Texas. His cousin, A.J. Bouye, plays cornerback for the Houston Texans. Brown attended Wheeler High School in his hometown and led the basketball team to a 95-28 record over his four varsity seasons. He was a member of the gold medal-winning U18 National Team at the FIBA Americas following his junior season in 2014. As a senior, Brown guided the Wildcats to a 30-3 record and the No. 6 ranking in the nation, while averaging 28.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. The forward helped the Wildcats win the Class 6A state title by knocking down two free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining against Pebblebrook High School to seal a 59-58 win. Brown won numerous personal accolades following his senior season, including 2015 Gatorade Georgia Boys’ Player of the Year and Georgia’s Mr. Basketball. He was also one of the top college recruits in the nation, owning a No. 3 ranking on the Rivals 150 and a No. 4 ranking on both Scout and the ESPN 100. During his only season at the University of California, Berkeley, Brown averaged 14.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, both of which were the second-best marks on the team. He was named Pac-12 Freshman of the year and earned a spot on the First-Team All-Pac-12. Brown announced on April 21 that he was declaring for the Draft.