UNC Basketball: Analyst reiterates 5-star PF headed to Texas or UNC

Recruiting analyst doubles down on prediction that 5-star prospect will choose either Texas or UNC basketball

Rivals’ Dan McDonald reiterated on Friday morning what so many other recruiting analysts have said over the past six months when he called Texas and North Carolina the “schools to beat” for class of 2020 prospect Greg Brown.

The 6-foot-9, 195-pound power forward out of Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas recently announced a top-5 list that includes Auburn, Kentucky, Memphis, North Carolina and Texas. The five teams that Brown named were a surprise to virtually nobody, none more than the Tar Heels and Longhorns, two programs that have long been considered the prohibitive favorites in his recruitment.

"Five-star small forward Greg Brown took the next step in his recruitment earlier this week by cutting his list down to five schools,” McDonald said. “The schools still in the mix for the Texas native are Auburn, Kentucky, Memphis, North Carolina and Texas. Diving deeper into his recruitment, the schools to beat by most accounts are North Carolina and Texas.Shaka Smart has been recruiting Brown almost since the day he arrived in Austin and the family ties are strong. North Carolina hosted him on a visit when the Tar Heels played Duke last season and made a big impact. If you’re looking for a wild card here, that could be Memphis. Penny Hardaway has proven to be an elite recruiter. Don’t expect Brown to decide any time soon. The word going around is he’ll wait and see how the season plays out and where certain prospects end up before making a call."

Brown’s Crystal Ball is 100 percent in favor of Texas, though a couple of the four votes are old enough to be considered obsolete at this point. Still, though, it seems like Texas could be the slight favorite in Brown’s recruitment, given the relationship that he’s built with Longhorns head coach Shaka Smart, and his proximity to the school, which he lives just 12 miles from.

If I were putting odds on Brown’s recruitment, I’d give the Longhorns a marginal edge over the Tar Heels. If Brown leaves the state of Texas, however, I think North Carolina becomes an overwhelming favorite against the likes of Auburn, Kentucky and Memphis. We should get a little more of a feel for Brown’s recruitment in the coming months as he begins to take official visits to his finalists, and inches closer to a decision; a decision that McDonald notes could be a long time away.

Brown is as athletic as they come, with length and speed to match. He’s a terrific finisher in transition and in the half court, and drives the lane for powerful, highlight reel dunks as often as he can. He’s a good rebounder and shot blocker, too, and has the ability to guard multiple positions on the defensive end of the court.

And despite the fact that he could use another 20 pounds on his long, wiry frame, as well as some additional work on his jump shot and ball-handling skills, Brown has the type of potential that could easily make him a top-10 pick in the NBA Draft. That’s precisely why he’s getting so much attention from high-profile coaches and scouts this summer.

As a junior at Vandegrift High School, Brown made 53 percent of his shots from the floor and 71 percent of his free throws. He earned All-Nike EYBL honorable mention this year when he averaged 17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game with the Texas Titans.

Brown is the No. 8 prospect in the class of 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the top power forward in the class, and the No. 1 player in the state of Texas.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Greg Brown recruitment, and everything North Carolina basketball.