Game Scouted: VMI @ High Point
High Point wins 70-67
Box Score
John Brown (F, 6’8”,R-SO)
Stats
36 min, 12-18 FG, 3-4 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 27 TP
Strengths
Incredible athlete who can finish above the rim with ease. Quick 2nd jump. Active player on both sides of the floor. Terrific scorer who can beat you off the bounce, post you up, and pick and pop. Good shooter out to about 18’ where he can hit consistently. Gets out on the break quickly and is great in transition. Finishes well around the rim. Has an excellent left hook that he is able to set him self up for in different ways. Highly efficient player in the post. Go to move is the turn around jumper over his right shoulder. Loves to post up on right block and go baseline. Showed a solid face up game where he can hit the 12’ short corner jumper or put in on the floor for a dribble and get to basket. Solid rebounder especially on both ends.
High motor defender who influences and blocks shots. Has solid length. Is a well conditioned player. Does a good job getting low and fronting the post and making it tough for post entries.
Weaknesses
Lefty who needs to improve his right hand, hesitates to use or attack in this direction. Attacks the rim out of control at times. FT shooting has improved from last year (at 75% this year), but could stand to continue to improve in this area. Good midrange shooter but never attempts 3’s, needs to improve range. Not a great passer. Dribble is a bit loose.
Is active on the defensive side of the ball but is undisciplined. Tends to reach and gamble too much. Vulnerable to be posted up deep inside needs to improve lower body strength.
Overview
After having an outstanding freshman year where he won the Big South Freshman of the Year award and was named 1st Team All-Conference, Brown has continued to improve in his sophomore campaign. Coming into tonight’s game, he was leading the Panthers in minutes per game (32), points per game (19.6), and blocks per game (1.7). Big game tonight as he went beyond his averages in minutes and in points.
It’s tough to criticize a player who plays as hard and has such a high motor as Brown does. His athleticism is unmatched at this level and he uses it to his advantage on both sides of the floor. Plays the PF position for this HPU team but will need to add weight to play that position at the next level. I could see him developing into an athletic 3, but he needs to improve his range and ball handling. Can he defend the 3 on the perimeter is the question as well. He was asked to defend the bigger DJ Covington tonight for VMI. Is a player that NBA should begin to monitor if they haven’t started to already.
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