Forgive me for sounding like a broken record but Brown is at his best as an isolation scorer and is one of the best I’ve seen in my time covering the state. Ja”rye should be the 6th region player of the year next season and is likely to see a whole bunch of new offers come his way over the upcoming AAU season.

DuBois made history Tuesday night after winning its first 6th Region tournament match since the program joined the KHSAA in 2022. The Lions now seek a bid to the state tournament which might be possible behind Brown. As the 4th leading scorer and best isolation player in Kentucky, he’s wreaked havoc on competition all season long. Athleticism, handles, crafty finishing, outside shooting ability, playmaking, high IQ… you name it, Brown’s got it. With 850+ points on the season and counting, Brown will be a tough cover for anyone who has the assignment.

One of the most talented offensive players in Kentucky, Brown is such a unique scoring talent with the ability to get into the paint whenever he wants. I love how Brown avoids shot blocks with his acrobatic ability at the rim, being able to hang in midair to twist around a contest. Brown started off by getting going with a couple breakaway slam dunks off back tap steals. An inconsistent perimeter shooter, Brown knocked down a tough 18-foot jumper and seems most confident from that area of the court. A late and-1 off a BLOB helped WEB DuBois in a game that was won on a last second putback by senior Kenyon Sykes. Expect to see Brown’s recruitment to a spike this summer during 17 U grassroots action.

Brown is having a huge season for a DuBois team that is off to their best start in program history. Averaging 29 points per game with splits of 59/35/81, Ja’Rye continues to be my pick as the best 1 on 1 scorer in the state, regardless of class. He also thrives on getting to the free throw line and is one of the best in the state at converting several trips per game.

Brown has several D1 offers already and is, in my opinion, the top isolation scorer in Kentucky. A floor raiser who makes everyone around him better, Ja’Rye is a super talented lead guard and one of the best Sophomores in Kentucky.

Ja’Rye Brown Ja’Rye Brown 6'1" | PG W.E.B. DuBois | 2027 State #191 Nation KY averaged 27.3 points per game last season and stands out for his ability to create his own shot. He combines agility with a polished set of moves that allow him to get to his spots and attack defenders where he’s most effective. Brown owns a versatile scoring arsenal and finishes inside with soft touch. Regardless of the situation, he’s a dependable, high-volume scorer who can heat up quickly and put points on the board in bunches.

The best isolation scorer in Kentucky (in my opinion), Brown continues to get better and is seeing more offers come his way. He’s both quick and fast and thrives at getting into the paint on offense. Ja’Rye is more scorer than facilitator at this point but he does seem to be able to create open looks for teammates when he trusts them to make the shots.

Brown did not have the hottest hand scoring the ball in the game I watched live at the Invitational, but his control of the flow of the game and ability to set up teammates for success, along with his play on the defensive end showed his impact on all aspects of the game. The 6-foot-2 guard has a physical build, a strong handle to keep his dribble alive while observing the floor, impressive court vision to make the correct reads, and the strength to zip the ball all over the court with accuracy to find open teammates in stride. Brown uses the crossover and hesitation moves to get his initial defender on his hip, the body control and footwork to use the spin move to evade his defender, with touch on shots close to the basket. Brown is a solid on-ball defender with active hands to rip the ball from his opponents or jump passing lanes to deflect the ball and get out in the open court, which allows him to put points on the board, even if the jumper is not falling. 

I’ve long said that Brown is the best isolation scorer in Kentucky and he spent all month confirming that with his high scoring performances in the Adidas 3SSB tournament. Ja’Rye scored in bunches for his Midwest team and earned a couple of new D1 scholarship offers as a result. Look for Brown to be one of the leading scorers in Kentucky this season.

DuBois point guard Ja’Rye Brown Ja’Rye Brown 6'1" | PG W.E.B. DuBois | 2027 State #191 Nation KY was offered by Ohio University and San Jose State University.