It’s official, Jordan Brown is Nevada’s newest basketball player.
Brown, the much-heralded freshman-to-be from Prolific Prep in Napa, sent in his paperwork to Nevada officials, allowing basketball coach Eric Musselman to talk on the record about the crown jewel of his third recruiting class.
Brown, who started his high school career at Woodcreek High School in Roseville, is the first 5-star recruit in Nevada basketball history. He’s the second Nevada player to have played in the annual McDonald’s All-American game, following in the footsteps of former Galena star Luke Babbitt. Brown scored 26 points in the prestigious all-star game, the third-most for a California player in the game.
“We’ve had a really good last couple of weeks,” Musselman told reporters in Legacy Hall Monday afternoon. “Finishing up the season in the Sweet 16 and coming one basket shy of the Elite 8, we’re coming in the post-season with positive energy and positive vibes. I couldn’t be more excited about the grad transfers (Trey Porter and Ehab Amin) we’ve added to the roster, and then obviously getting paperwork back on Jordan Brown…I couldn’t be more excited about adding a 5-star power forward to the roster as well.
“We’ve been recruiting Jordan since the first day we were allowed to. When you recruit somebody for that long, for an extended period of time, you know the player and the parents on a personal level. We would have been devastated if we hadn’t gotten Jordan because we put so much time and effort (into the recruitment). You start to fall in love with the player. If we don’t make that run, I don’t think we get Jordan.”
Musselman said he wasn’t sure, but he thought Brown might have played AAU against both of his sons. The Nevada coach said Brown is a multi-dimensional player, and he could tell right away Brown had next-level talent.
“He has a high ceiling,” Musselman said. “There is so much to his game. Jordan is only going to get get better in so many different areas. He has a lot of growth to go in his game. He wants to get better. This is a big summer for the team and him.
“He brings a lot. It’s nice to have a 6-11 player at that (power forward) spot. He can face up. He is able to do a lot of things. He can hit 15-to-17-foot shots, handle the ball for dribble handoffs and he is a good passer. He can play with his back to the basket and find the cutters.”
Musselman said he wants Brown to add pounds and strength to his 210-pound frame. Matt Eck, the Pack’s weight training coach, will be tasked with that responsibility.
You can’t say the Pack is undersized up front anymore with the likes of the 6-11 Brown, 6-10 Porter and 6-7 220-pound Tre’Shawn Thurman, who sat out last season, splitting time in the power forward and center spots. Musselman said the addition of Porter means Brown can stay at a power forward spot.
“It was really significant to Jordan Brown and his family,” Musselman said. “Jordan Brown is going to love playing with Trey Porter and vice versa. Probably the most excited guy is Jordan Caroline, who can move back to small forward.
“Jordan can still play center when we go small. We’re a different team with Thurman, Porter and Brown on the front line. We can dominate inside and dominate on the backboards. The first two years we did a good job protecting the rim. We now have multiple guys that can protect the rim when we get beat off the dribble.”
Musselman said Brown won’t have the weight of the world on his shoulders, especially if the Cody and Caleb Martin and Caroline return.
“It’s a great opportunity for a 5-star that has gotten so much recognition to play with a bunch of veterans,” Musselman said. “He won’t have to shoulder an unecessary burden. The returning guys really wanted him to be part of the team.
“I feel the vets will have to help them. Any freshman at the college or pro level is going to have ups and downs. It’s important for us (coaches and teammates) to be there for him in his first year of college.”
