PrepHoopsTN Combine Evaluations: Part I

Andrew Force June 29, 2022 @ 02:23 PM

Whitsey’s on-ball defense stood out, as he bodied up [player_tooltip player_id="1259390" first="Rodney" last="Henderson"] and other quick guards with his chest. Whitsey can be a real pest on that end of the floor. This is very encouraging as he will likely give up 2-3 inches to most college guards. His willingness to use his strength and positioning to defend will undeniably aid his defensive efforts.

[player_tooltip player_id="1495415" first="Justin" last="D. Brown"] | 6’4” SG | CSAS | Chattanooga Elite AAU

How did he measure against the competition?

Class of 2023
6’4"
Wingspan -- 6’5.5"
Standing Reach -- 8’0"
GPA -- 3.4
3/4 Court Sprint -- 3.7, 3.7
Lane Agility -- 10.94, 10.84
Shuttle Run -- 3.8, 3.7
Shoe Size - 11.5
Camp Ranking -- #16
State Ranking - #105

[caption id="attachment_1498732" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="1495415" first="Justin" last="D. Brown"] earned All-Star recognition at the PrepHoopsTN Summer Combine[/caption]

NBA Stylistic Comparison: 2021 Celtics Aaron Nesmith
College Projection: Division II/DII-
July AAU Schedule: Best of the South Atlanta (July 7-10)
Grassroots BBall Finale (July 20-24)
Twitter: @JustinDBrown05

As of June 2022, [player_tooltip player_id="1495415" first="Justin" last="D. Brown"] measured a +1.5" [Wingspan - Height], which indicates he has good length. Most NBA players record around +3-+7, usually the bigger discrepancies occurring for 6’7"+ players.

In one specific 5v5 game, Brown failed to collect three defensive rebounds that essentially fell right above his head. Again, this was an extremely small sample size, perhaps unfair to draw a broad conclusion, but in that instance he needed to show more ferocity and hunger for the defensive rebound. Further, Brown’s commitment to on-ball defense fluctuated throughout the admittedly loose fullcourt session. When he decided to lock-in, Brown spread his feet and lowered his backside, preventing [player_tooltip player_id="1495356" first="Simon" last="Tesfit"] from attacking, but this was not the same defensive posture he provided throughout. When his team secured the basketball, Brown dashed up the court with an obvious desperation to score or facilitate a quick bucket. This level of eagerness must exist on both ends, as obviously defense is perhaps more important on-ball than offense off-ball.

Brown’s handle is fine. He can push the basketball in transition, if needed. Solid straight-line speed without the basketball.

Offensively, Brown did a wonderful job of attacking the basket upon the catch. His decisions were not slow. Once the ball arrived, he was already moving towards the tin and his first step was sharp and fast. He showed off a few slick evasive maneuvers around the rim to get off a high-percentage layup despite challenging arms.