Jaylen Brown is taking his talents to California.
The 6-foot-7 wing from Marietta (GA) Wheeler pledged to the Bears on Friday night, calling head coach Cuonzo Martin to let him know he was coming. Assistant coach Tracy Webster gets the assist on the recruitment.
Brown chose Cal over Michigan, Kentucky and North Carolina. Brown also recently cut Kansas, UCLA, Georgia and Georgia Tech from his list.
CALIFORNIA!!!
— Cuonzo Martin (@CuonzoMartin) May 2, 2015
Brown is ranked the No. 2 small forward in the Class of 2015 by 247Sports.com and the No. 3 player in the class.
Brown joins a class now ranked No. 5 nationally by 247Sports that includes big man Ivan Rabb, small forward Davon Dillard and shooting guard Tyson Jolly.
With point guard Tyrone Wallace, Jabari Brid and Jordan Mathews coming back, Martin’s team is loaded with talent.
Desmond Easton, Brown’s trainer, compared Brown to a young Carmelo Anthony.
“The scouting report is he can score like Melo — anywhere on the floor,” he told the Detroit News. “He’s a 6-7 wing player that can get his own buckets off the bounce. He doesn’t need a pick and roll. He can beat his man off the bounce and is strong enough to finish, but he has a great feel and understanding of the game. He knows how to make his teammates better. On his championship (squad) in Georgia not one kid on his team is a top 100 kid.”
Brown also suggested he may want to spend two years in college in order to prepare for the NBA. He’s currently projected as the No. 2 pick behind Kentucky’s Skal Labissiere in the 2016 Draft by DraftExpress.com.
“I want to develop,” he said. “People say I’m ready to go (to the NBA) this year. People say I’ll be ready next year. To do what I want to do, I think it’ll take me at least two years. I don’t want to come into a situation like the NBA and have to develop for two or three years. When I come in I want to be a superstar. Coming in I want to be on superstar status. It’s going to take development and it’s going to take hard work. I know I can make the business move and be a top-five, top-10 or top-15 draft pick if I just had a solid year in college and left. I love the game too much to chase after the money. I know your health is not secure, but I love the game. I just want to develop and be the best player I can be. When I’m ready, I’m ready.”
