NBA Comparison: Al-Farouq Aminu/Mo Harkless

Strengths: Brown pairs excellent size with top shelf athleticism, helping make him a destructive force running in transition … Perhaps the most explosive player available for this year’s draft. Elite level athlete … Is crafty around the rim, and makes layups and dunks from contorted angles … Shot an excellent 78% around the rim, and has a knack for punishing smaller defenders … Talented athlete with high potential tied to his youth … Can beat defenders with a combination of dribble moves and pace … Solid three-point stroke/ numbers (34% from 3) highlights potential to be at least an average long range shooter … Confident with the ball in his hands, Brown is decisive getting downhill … Has a wide array of moves to evade defenders near the rim … Tremendous bounce and cutting create easy alley oop chances …His size and lateral quickness make him an ideal defender in a switching defense … Length and instincts close passing lanes and disturb ball handlers … Averaged a steal per game last season … Played and started in every game this season … Understood his role, and played his part as a defensive fulcrum and off-ball role player on offense … Unselfish player. Vision and passing is one of his better attributes, averaging a solid 1.9 per game … Possesses a solid wingspan at 6’11 …

Weaknesses: Skill set in need of refining … Scored 9.7 points per game this season, and had a very low usage rate and  productivity dropped off some at the end of the season … Lacks a good shooting form. Takes time to get his shot off and lacks a fluid motion and needs to refine his shot mechanics … Difficult to imagine him developing into a consistent scorer, and instead more as a pick-and-roll partner and cutter … Almost all of his points came on assists, and shot just 33% from mid-range … Sub 70% (68.9%) free throw shooter … 34% shooter from deep on low volume, Brown needs time to develop into a serviceable shooter…Is not a playmaker for others, averaging 1.9 assists and 1.7 turnovers this season … Essentially Brown will likely be very limited on offense, both as a scorer and distributor … Most of his best plays come on the fast break, and needs to utilize his speed and handling more often in the halfcourt … Not a great rebounder despite his strength and vertical … Some question his motor due to his lack of rebounding numbers,  being asked to be the energy guy … Faded some as the season came to an end … Could have a much more developed post game for bullying smaller forwards or guards that get switched onto him …

Outlook: An additional year at Baylor would greatly benefit his long term outlook at the next level … A gifted athlete with intriguing potential, Brown has “NBA athleticism”, but is still a long ways away from being able to contribute at the offensive end … Like so many other young players, outside shooting is a swing skill, as even an average shot could greatly benefit his offensive game … An ideal defender for the modern game, Brown can smother almost any position on the court … Needs to be more confident in creating looks for himself and others, with that creation ability being critical to his offensive prowess … The freshman is likely a sought after prospect because of his bounce, defense and potential … If he can add more isolation scoring to his arsenal, he will be a tough player to stop …

Notes: Brown entered his name in the 2022 NBA Draft on March 30th … Born and raised in Cottage Grove, Minnesota … One of the most athletic players available for this year’s NBA draft … Considered a late first to early second round pick … Measured: 6’6.25” barefoot, 6’7.50” in shoes, 8’7.0” standing reach,  201.2 lbs, 6’11.00” wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine …

Michael Hopp 3/30/22