Tennessee basketball commits DeWayne Brown plays the style of basketball that Rick Barnes prefers in his big guys. Brown chose the Volunteers over Mississippi State, Alabama, and LSU. He is also the first commit to the 2025 class, as Barnes attempts to bring in more young players after losing some to the portal this offseason.
While Brown has a few years until he’ll be on campus playing in orange and white, he has the potential to be one of the top forwards in the 2025 class and a playmaker as a freshman for the Vols. He also stated that Tennessee’s style of play had a significant role in his decision to join the Vols.
“I feel like [Tennessee is] a pretty good match with my game,” Brown said following his formal visit in February. “They prefer to play fast, exactly like I did in AAU and high school. And they play inside-out with Coach Barnes, which I believe is beneficial.”
Barnes asks a lot of his forwards, and when they respond, the Vols usually have a solid squad. This season, it was Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka. In the past, it was Uros Plavsic and John Fulkerson, or Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams.
Brown might be one of two forwards who help the Vols win another SEC title or make a deep NCAA Tournament run. He adds a strong work ethic and a high basketball IQ to the 2025 recruiting class, qualities Barnes expects from every player he coaches.
He has been dominant in high school, helping Hoover High School win its second consecutive state championship. He finished the season as Alabama’s Class 7A Player of the Year, averaging 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Brown is a versatile athlete who can do whatever the coaches ask of him, according to his high school coach. His game also places a heavy emphasis on the paint. It matches everything Tennessee could ask of him on the court, which is one of the main reasons he chose Tennessee.
We don’t know what kind of player Brown will become at the collegiate level, but based on his high school success thus far, he would be an excellent fit for Barnes and the Vols. He is also the first recruit in the 2025 class, as Barnes only signed one player in the 2024 class.
Leave a Reply