Prospect Watch: Colin Braun (2018)
The adage “looks can be deceiving” really comes into play when first glance of 2018 forward Colin Braun of Vianney.
At 6-feet-7 inches, Braun has the height of a basketball player, but when you look at his very thin build and shaggy hair style, he may look more like a skateboarder than one of the top returning bigs in the ultra-competitive Metro Catholic Conference.
Don’t let the looks fool you. Braun is a very competitive player who gets after it aggressively on both ends of the court. Those traits, along with his size enabled him to enjoy a very productive junior season for the Golden Griffins. He is not afraid to throw his thin 170-pound frame into the heat of battle at every opportunity. If an opposing defender isn’t paying attention, Braun is suddenly at the rim dunking on people in traffic.
“I know that I’m undersized weight-wise, but I try not to let that bother me,” Braun said. “I play with a lot of heart and I don’t back down from anybody.”
As a junior, Braun averaged 12 points and six rebounds while blocking three shots a game. His size, length and high motor enabled him to be a very effective two-way player in the post.
“Colin has an old school feel for the game,” said Vianney coach Kevin Walsh. “He moves well without the ball and has good footwork. He is an efficient scorer who can score over either shoulder.”
Braun will be counted on to carry a much bigger role as a senior in 2018 as top scorer and rebounder Eric Krus graduates. He has been playing with the Nets during the grassroots season, which is basically made up of many of his Vianney teammates. Braun enjoyed a couple of solid showings at the Adidas All-American Tournament and St. Louis Spring Showcase.
“I’m looking forward to being a team leader next season because we lost a lot of good seniors,” he said. “This summer, I definitely want to get in the weight room and get stronger. I also want to develop my outside shot to go along with my nside game.”
Said Walsh, “He is a good shot blocker and he’s sneaky explosive. He has a good work ethic and continues to get better. He has a very high upside as he continues to grow into his frame.