NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Top-10 2020 F Greg Brown down to 5 schools
Five-star NCAA Basketball prospect Greg Brown recently released his finalist list which includes two Blue Bloods, Kentucky, and UNC.
Greg Brown, who is one of the preeminent players in the class of 2020, cut his list down to five schools on Aug. 6. The consensus five-star recruit is now considering Auburn, Kentucky, Memphis, North Carolina, and Texas. Meaning, he is no longer considering Baylor, Kansas, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas Tech who were on his February’s top 10 list.
Brown is one of the top uncommitted players in 2020 with Evan Mobley (USC) and Jalen Johnson (Duke) being the only players off the board. Brown is ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the nation by ESPN and the seventh-best by Rivals. He is also rated No. 8 in the class by 247Sports Composite and No. 9 by 247Sports.
The Austin (Texas) native demonstrated why he is so highly thought of this summer while playing for the Texas Titans. In 18 games on Nike’s EYBL tour, the 6-9 forward produced 18.7 points along with 8.5 caroms and shot 60% from the field. However, he did struggle from beyond the arc, connecting on just 4 of 25 (16%) attempts.
Brown is a high-level athlete who can play with his back to the basket as well as facing it. The long hybrid power forward thrives in transition, although he also possesses a terrific mid-range game. In addition, the Vandergrift High School product is an excellent offensive rebounder and shot-blocker.
Texas is considered the favorite for the in-state product. However, UNC, Kentucky, and Memphis have invested significant time on whooing the big man. Auburn also can’t be counted out.
Breaking down the five finalists
Kentucky: The Wildcats have recently entered the sweepstakes for Brown as they weren’t on his top-10 list back in February. In fact, Kentucky just offered him a scholarship a few days ago. Brown showed out in front of coach John Calipari at the Peach Jam, averaging 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over five games. He was a summer teammate of Kentucky target Cade Cunningham.
Kentucky is projected to have two more scholarships available for the 2020 season after already receiving commitments from a pair of wings in five-star BJ Boston and four-star Cam’ron Fletcher. The Wildcats could use some help in the frontcourt next season with Nate Sestina being out of eligibility and the possibility of Nick Richards and E. J. Montgomery bolting for the NBA.
Kentucky is a finalist for Isaiah Todd and Lance Ware. The Cats are also pursuing four-star Cliff Omoruyi and five-star center N’Faly Dante.
Memphis: The Tigers have been one of the schools that have been recruiting him the hardest, and he has developed an outstanding relationship with assistant Mike Miller. Coach Penny Hardaway is already viewed as a fantastic recruiter nabbing the No. 1 class in 2019 after his 2018 class was tabbed as the 30th best by 247Sports. However, the Tigers currently have 12 freshmen and sophomores on their roster this year. Meaning that they will likely have few scholarships available (one currently projected).
Auburn: The Tigers are a finalist, in part, due to how much Brown enjoyed his unofficial campus visit there back in June. The Tigers will lose a lot after this coming season and will really need to add some frontcourt depth. Auburn has one commitment already for 2020 — four-star combo guard Justin Powell — is expected to have four more scholarships available. Incoming 2019 freshmen Jaylin Williams and Babatunde Akingbola are the only two frontcourt players who are projected to return next year.
UNC: The Tar Heels who offered Brown in January has made him a priority for some time. Brown has already made a trip to Chapel Hill and is expected to return for another visit before making a decision. UNC has a commitment from Day’Ron Sharpe, but they are expected to have at least three more scholarships available for the 2020 class. While frontcourt is not a dire need for Carolina, they could use some more top of the line talent upfront. The Heels are in the top-six or seven of the following players: Puff Johnson, Caleb Love, Isaiah Todd, and Hunter Dickinson.
Texas: The Longhorns’ campus is located just 12 miles from where Brown lives, and he has developed a fantastic relationship with coach Shaka Smart. Smart will look to go 3-for-3 when attempting to keep top Austin talent at home, just like he did with current Brooklyn Net Jarett Allen and incoming freshman Will Baker. Texas should have a lot of talent in the upcoming years as they are very young, the Longhorns are projected to have just two scholarships available for 2020.
Prediction: 1. Texas with UNC or Kentucky a close second, depending on when Brown decides and who else claims a spot on those two teams roster before a decision is made. Therefore, I am saying I wouldn’t be surprised if UNC and/or Kentucky overtake the Longhorns. Auburn is meandering at No. 4 and Memphis is fifth due to their youth.
Other recruiting tidbits
2020 three-star forward Richie Springs (Brooklyn, NY) reclassified to 2019 and signed with the UConn Huskies on Aug. 6. The 6-9 power forward, who had a solid performance at the Peach Jam compiling 13.4 points a game, chose UConn over Illinois, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and St. John’s, among others. With the addition of Springs, the Huskies have now used all 11 of their scholarships available for the upcoming season. He joins four-star point guard Jalen Gaffney and four-star wing James Bouknight in the team’s current recruiting class. Also, the Huskies will have the services of redshirt freshman Akok Akok this year. Springs is expected to have a role this season as a reserve big man.
2021 four-star combo guard Manny Obaseki (Allen, TX) will take an unofficial visit to Baylor this weekend (Aug. 9-11). The 6-3 guard, who is a consensus top 60 player in the class, will visit Oklahoma at the end of August and Texas A&M in September.
Five-star 2020 Jaemyn Brakefield (Jackson, MS) is expected to cut his list to 10 sometime in August. Brakefield, who is a consensus top-55 player in the class, will use two of his visits to go to Michigan and Louisville. The 6-8 forward made took an unofficial visit to Ole Miss last week.
Michigan State will host 2021 Canadian prospects Charles Bediako and Kordell Charles for an unofficial visit on August 30th. Neither currently holds a scholarship offer from the Spartans. Bediako has seven scholarship offers while Charles now has just three.
2020 four-star prospect Keon Johnson verbally committed to Tennessee on Aug. 6. Johnson chose the Vols over Ohio State.
2021 four-star Trey Patterson (Somerset, NJ) took an unofficial visit at Stanford on Aug. 8. The 6-8 small forward currently holds 21 offers with Iowa, Washington, and the Cardinal being the latest to make overtures.