Jaylen Brown
VITALS
From:
California
Height/weight:
6-foot-7, 223 pounds
2015-16 stats (freshman):
Points:
14.6
Rebounds:
5.4
Assists
2.0
Overview
A standout high school player in Georgia who was ranked the second-best recruit in his class (behind only Ben Simmons), Jaylen Brown traveled to the other coast for one year of college. Brown helped lead California to its finest season in recent memory, as the Golden Bears earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the loftiest March Madness status in school history. Cal’s trip to the tourney was brief, however, with 13th-seeded Hawaii pulling off a 77-64 victory in the first round. Just over a month later, Brown declared for the draft, after earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors and first-team All-Pac-12 recognition.
What draft analysts like…
Brown is commonly described as one of the most physically gifted players in the 2016 NBA draft class, with athleticism that helps him contribute at both ends of the floor. “Brown has the kind of elite athleticism that translates into a great open-court player, a good rebounder for a wing and the potential to be a high-level defender, all with good size for a small forward,” NBA.com wrote. According to FoxSports.com, “he’s a big, physical wing player.”
What draft analysts wonder…
More than perhaps any potential high pick this year, Brown seems to invoke debate, partly because there may not be a consensus on how he’ll best be utilized in the NBA. “Jaylen Brown is probably going to be the most polarizing player in the draft,” SI.com predicted. “My dream is still for him to go to Draymond (Green) camp and embrace life as a stretch four, but that’s probably a longshot. As a three, he was inconsistent all year at Cal. He looked as overwhelmed as (Kentucky big) Skal (Labissiere), but without the same kind of skill level.” According to SB Nation, “it’s hard to get a read on him… He has an underdeveloped jumper, but he’s a stout defender and has shown… flashes on offense.”
Post-lottery projections
Where various prominent NBA websites predict he will be picked, along with excerpted comments from the respective mock drafts:
- NBA.com (fourth to Suns): “It’s easy to see the Suns considering several different directions here.”
- ESPN.com (eighth to Kings): “If (the Kings) keep the pick, Brown has all the physical tools to make him intriguing here, as long as the team is patient.”
- The Vertical (fourth to Suns): “The Suns have a major hole on the wing, and Brown is an excellent candidate to fill it. He possesses the necessary size, strength and length to play small forward alongside the very promising Devin Booker. The two complement each other nicely in many ways.”
- SI.com (ninth to Raptors): “There’s enough size and athleticism to make him worth the gamble as a long-term two-way weapon, especially for a good team that can afford to be patient.”
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