NCAA Basketball: Pros and cons of transfer Jordan Brown’s final options

Jordan Brown is an intriguing NCAA Basketball transfer. What are the pros and cons among his final options?

After RJ Hampton’s decision to go overseas, all of the class of 2019 NCAA Basketball five-star prospects have chosen their respective homes. Some will thrive and others will struggle, like Jordan Brown did this past season.

The former McDonald’s All-American was effectively buried on Nevada’s bench, playing behind a bevy of senior frontcourt players. He averaged just 3.0 and 2.1 rpg in 10 minutes a night last season, reaching double figures just twice all year. But it’s fair to say that he was never really given a chance to show what he could do, with All-Conference performers such as Jordan Caroline and Trey Porter in front of him.

Brown elected to transfer this offseason after head coach Eric Musselman left the program for the Arkansas head coaching gig. Former UCLA Head Coach Steve Alford took over for the Wolf Pack but the 6’11 forward has still taken visits to other teams. Nevada still has a chance to retain Brown for next season but it’s still up in the air as to where he’ll land up.

While Kentucky and Texas A&M are showing interest, it’s unlikely that either SEC school has a realistic shot to land him. One is rebuilding in the Aggies while the Wildcats present the same problem Brown had at Nevada; a stacked frontcourt with little playing time to offer. So the odds are great that he’ll pick one of the western-based programs.

This is a crucial decision for Brown in picking his potentially second new home. I’ll be looking at the four team’s pros and cons that the former five-star recruit should consider when making another move. This time his basketball career could depend on it.

Arizona Wildcats

Pros

If Brown leaves Nevada, he’ll have to sit out an entire season, meaning that Chase Jeter will have graduated by then for Arizona. That leaves just three-star center Christian Koloko and four-star power forward Zeke Nnaji among the frontcourt players on the roster, giving Brown a great shot at immediate minutes for the Wildcats, who’ll have quality guards around to support him. Sean Miller has also been great at developing big men to send off to the pros.

Cons

The risk of sitting out a year under a great recruiter like Miller is that the roster could look vastly different a year from now. That has to be a concern for a player who was buried on the bench. It’s also a possibility that something may happen to the head coach as well. Miller has been constantly named when it comes to the FBI Investigation into corruption and the NCAA itself may also take a closer look into the program. Arizona seems to be fine for now but the risk is there.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Pros

There’s less of a chance of a star player coming to join Arizona State than Arizona, which is better for Brown while sitting out. The hope is that he becomes the next Zylan Cheatham, who averaged a double-double this past season. Playing in the Pac-12 on an NCAA Tournament-caliber team would benefit him in the longterm and become a better all-around player.

Cons

While the frontcourt for the Sun Devils might not be as individually talented as the top Pac-12 programs, the depth could present problems a year from now. Kimani Lawrence and Romello White would be seniors for the 2020-21 season and the team just signed top JUCO forward Khalid Thomas, who decommitted from Texas Tech recently. As of now, Brown isn’t head and shoulders above these forwards and could have difficulty finding minutes as well.

Saint Mary’s Gaels

Pros

While Mark Few and Gonzaga gets all the attention in the WCC, Randy Bennett’s success with the Gaels has also been very impressive. He’s developed both guards and big men into All-Americans and star mid-major players. Saint Mary’s is projected to be ranked next season thanks to Jordan Ford and Malik Fitts. Ford will be gone but Fitts should be back for 2020-21. He and Brown could potentially form a frontcourt that even Gonzaga would have to worry about.

Cons

The minutes and opportunities would be there for Brown compared to the other options but after spending time with one mid-major, would he want to go to another? Playing in the Pac-12 is alluring for a player of this caliber and while Nevada can fight for the top of the Mountain West, Saint Mary’s is fighting BYU for second place usually in the WCC. Ford’s pending departure will hurt their chances of going dancing as well.

Nevada Wolf Pack

Pros

If Brown does decide to come back to Nevada, it’ll be a completely different roster and staff than a year ago. But there are positives such as playing for a head coach in Alford that has sent numerous guys to the NBA. He’s being heavily recruited by a fan base and group of teammates that genuinely wants him back. Brown could very well become the focal point offensively next year for the Wolf Pack and he wouldn’t have to sit out a season. His presence could keep the team in contention for a conference title in 2020 and bring in a new group of players with an elite recruiter in Alford.

Cons

The one main disadvantage of Brown staying at Nevada is the simple unknown of how it’ll work out under Coach Alford. He’d get plenty of minutes and chances to thrive but if it doesn’t gel, Brown would basically waste another year of eligibility and have much less interest from teams the next go-around. The talent level of this Wolf Pack team currently is less than the other three options also, possibly exposing brown in the process.

This is a unique transfer situation with a high school All-American possibly going elsewhere after a year where it made sense to keep him on the bench. Quite frankly, he could be a star in college or just a rotation piece. His move in the coming days or weeks this offseason may go a long way in deciding that.