Most eyes will be on all-everything Jabari Brown for Oakland High's upcoming basketball season. But most spectators should keep an eye out for Jamil Brown, the younger and often overlooked Brown brother of the Oakland High Wildcats who is the No. 29 ranked player in the NorCalPreps.com 2012 boys basketball rankings. Last year, the Wildcats were 17-13 in the Oakland Athletic League (OAL) and lost in the second round of the NorCal Regional Division I playoffs to De La Salle 67-55. As a sophomore starter, the younger Brown averaged 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks per contest.
At 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, Brown considers himself to be a slasher because his skills are best demonstrated in transition and running the break whether it is driving to the lane or filling the lane as his athletic ability gives him advantages over the defense. When asked whose game he models his after, Brown says, "Paul George from Fresno State who is now an Indiana Pacers rookie. The reason is that he is a slasher who is long and athletic, but also has a good skill set and can shoot it from deep."
During this summer, Brown has been working out and playing in tournaments with both his high school team and his Oakland Rebels 16U club team. Jamil considers his best basketball skills to be his passing ability and court vision because he can get his teammates involved in the scoring flow. The skill that he is working on the most is his ball handling because he plans to play a guard or small forward position at the next level. With his size and athleticism, better ball handling will allow him to break down the defense to create easier shots for himself and his teammates. Oakland High Coach Orlando Watkins says about Brown's strengths, "Length, athleticism, passing, passion for and knowledge of the game. He is competitive and just learning to take his game to the next level. Ever since he has been at Oakland High, he has been constantly improving."
Brown's Oakland High team includes Jabari Brown, Jalen Headspeth, TJ Taylor, Dominique Taplin, and Miles Gordon while his Rebels club team includes Rodney Cook (Bethel HS) and Isaiah Taylor (St. Mary's College High). When asked what it is like to play with such highly regarded teammates, Brown says, "Playing with very good players motivates me to play to my highest level because I know they are going to do the same."
Brown has already attended Elite Camps at Stanford and Washington State, which were positive experiences. Brown visited Washington State with good friend, Castro Valley High's Juan Anderson. Brown says about the visit, "Coach Allen showed me and Juan around the campus, which was really nice and seemed like a real college atmosphere." In addition, Brown recently visited the Washington Huskies on his older brother's recruiting visit and was able to speak with some of the coaches and players. Coach Stubblefield from Oregon has attended some of the open gyms and has expressed interest in the younger Brown. Coach Watkins says, "He has only scratched the surface of his potential, with continued hard work he has the ability to become a versatile difference maker."
This Wildcat wants to attend a school that he can have a basketball impact as an underclassman and that plays a running and fast tempo style. Location wise, he is open to anywhere but would not mind comfortable weather like his Bay Area home. Academically, Brown would like to major in Kinesiology as his favorite subject is Science.
Brown should develop into a mentally and physically strong player. Physically, he has the attributes and athleticism to play at the next level. More importantly, he has the mental makeup to be a leader. Brown has encountered a few family deaths early in his life that has made him more motivated and stronger as a person. And then there are the endless comparisons with his older brother. Brown realizes that he has the skills and fortitude to forge his own basketball image and legacy. As a result, his individual goal for his junior season is to become a bigger offensive threat. From the team perspective, he wants to see the Wildcats sweep the OAL, NorCal, and State championships.
Mil, a shorter version of his name and what his teammates call him, is a laid back and funny person off the basketball courts. In addition, he likes to make videos and rap during his free time. Expect the Wildcats' opponents to experience a "Brown" out with both Jabari and Jamil.
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