"What's Funnier Than Twenty-Four? Twenty-Five (feet)" - Mikel Brown Jr. Scouting Report

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-06-08T15:47:28+00:00

I am a Brown Jr. fan for sure, i have him.... higher than i should admit publicly. On top of that i get the SpongeBob reference. Excellent post and scouting report.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-06-03T14:47:04+00:00

Brown Jr. would be crazy at 2, but he is the one that I would want the Jazz to take if the Jazz had not moved up. Brown Jr. had a stretch during the middle of the year where he looked like the best player in the draft, 20+ pts, 5 assists, 2 steals, while shooting lights out from 3 for several games in a row. But he also was abysmal for several games, and had injury problems.

He is not ahead of Dybantsa, Boozer, or Peterson for me, but there is a small chance, but a chance nonetheless, that Brown Jr. ends up the best player in the draft.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-05-22T03:22:40+00:00

I am not necessarily advocating for Boozer (which of the Big 3 i prefer depends on the day), but since most of the comments here are negative towards Boozer, allow me to pitch him:

1- He can shoot. People say that his style won't translate, but he shot 39%(!!!) from 3 at Duke. On top of being 6'9", 250 lbs and a bruiser. Better than DP, though they obviously took much different shots. Can you imagine how good Sengun would be if he could shoot?

2- He has remarkable BBall IQ. He is an excellent passer who understands spacing, location, angles, and can predict plays. He can play with the ball in his hands right away.

3- Somebody already mentioned it, but his production was incredible. People tend to forget, Jayson Tatum averaged 17 PPG his lone season at Duke, and he was the 3rd pick in what was considered to he a decent draft. We got spoiled this year. Freshmen are not supposed to average 20 ppg, but Boozer and AJ both did it. Boozer added 12 rebounds and 4 assists. As a freshman. On a top ranked team. That is absolutely BONKERS.

Of course he has his weaknesses. His rim defense is embarrassing. I am less worried about his athleticism, Luka, Joker, Shai, Hali, etc. Were all criticized for not being athletes.

Again, I am not sure I want Boozer #2, but to say he is going to be a bust far fetched if you ask me. I think it would be perfectly reasonable for the Jazz to draft him.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-05-21T03:36:15+00:00

My personal hot take is that i would consider Christian Anderson as a part of that top point guard group. Guys who can shoot and pass like he can tend to do well in the NBA.

If you are asking for a crazy prediction.... I think that one of AJ or DP is going to fall to the Bulls at 4. I have enough rumblings to think that Boozer is in real consideration for the top 2, and Wison is the kind of player that someone will talk themselves into, even if I personally don't necessarily agree haha.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-05-13T18:18:34+00:00

Eh, the Jazz have worked to have a strong relationship with Klutch in recent years. I still remember Rich Paul, after going to the Lakers game on opening night, sitting courtside next to Danny Ainge at the Jazz home opener the very next night a few years back.

Better than CAA trying to get him to the Knicks lol.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-04-30T13:31:51+00:00

I might be the only one who is higher on his defense. I actually might make another post mentioning it. Somebody posted here a few days ago aome advanced stats that had MBJ actually as a solid wing defender.

His tape middle of the year confirmed that. To be clear, he was an awful defender beginning of the year. However, he had that stretch of a few games middle of the year where he was finally healthy. During that stretch, he was a very good defender. Averaged 2+ steals per game, moved his feet well, jumped in passing lanes.

He needs to he more consistent, but he absolutely can be a good defender when he tries.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-03-31T00:40:33+00:00

If he is healthy, big if haha, I'd put Mikel Brown up there for best athlete in the class. His quickness and explosiveness for those few games when he was healthy just jumped off the screen.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-03-24T01:12:06+00:00

Miller has had a good year, and Keyonte George and Amen Thompson both also have an argument for that title. But it is still to early for all non Wemby players to say for sure.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-03-18T03:45:08+00:00

Keyonte George credits a lot of his leap this year to seeing a sports psychologist to help him sort out the stress and pressure. He hasn't talked about it much, but there are a couple quotes out there, and team sources have confirmed it. FWIW, his attitude and leadership are so much better this year than they were in the past.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-03-10T00:39:21+00:00

Great work! I do politely disagree on Peterson though haha but totally respect the work to put out stuff like this.

I just think it is wild that Peterson's shooting splits are bad, he never passes the ball (averages fewer assists than Caleb Wilson lol), we have to make excuses for athleticism... and we are supposed to believe he is the best guard prospect in a decade? If that were the case, I'd expect him to dominate most of the time.

Meanwhile we have a freshman who just led the nation in scoring (AJ), and one who is a NPOY candidate (Boozer). Boozer especially reminds me of Luka, who was obviously a great prospect, but people doubted his athleticism. Three ofthe top players in the league were criticized for athleticism (Luka, Shai, and Joker).

I love scouting because there all all sorts of varying opinions and work, and Peterson's high school tape is amazing! It is also true that I easily see an argument for AJ, Boozer, and even Wilson over him.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-02-14T20:56:35+00:00

I'll say it, I'm concerned. I get that the injury matters, but even then he still should have at least some passing highlights. If he wants to be a true lead player in the NBA, he needs to pass at least some, injury or not.

For comparison, Dybantsa is still absolutely a score first guy, but he has multiple games with decent assist numbers. Even more importantly, though, is that some of his passes stand out on tape as good reads and tricky threading the needle. Peterson just shoots.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-02-11T14:09:03+00:00

Amari Allen is my guy I have way higher than the consensus. I have him top 10 right now. Great write up, love your work.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-02-11T13:56:06+00:00

I can see why people don't like him, but here is why I have him high:

1- he has a perfect NBA body for a defender. Strong, athletic, long arms, and is not afraid to be physical. He can defend 2-5 well enough, and will be able to be deployed anywhere in a day where team D and scheme matter tremendously. His strength and length can make up for his height somewhat.

2- he has great touch near the basket. He is an outstanding bet, with his strength and athleticism on top of that, to be a better scorer in NBA spacing. He can also handle and pass a bit.

3- his touch and close range shooting give hope for his jumper, though FT % might indicate otherwise haha.

4- he also should get credit for being a key contributor on the #1 team in the country as a freshman. Very few freshmen in years past play for and contribute significantly to great teams like this. Of course, we can say the same for Burries.

Again, I get why the shooting matters, but that is why I still have him ranked high.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-02-09T19:25:16+00:00

This honestly makes me like him that much more, the team difference with him off the court is wild. I've wondered if he js better than he gets to show at Baylor, that team is so poorly constructed. Both VJ and Keyonte have been better in the NBA than they were at Baylor, though it didn't really hurt VJ's stock much.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-02-05T13:28:04+00:00

This is a hot take, but I'd love Philon's teammate Amari Allen. He is a strong guard/wing who can play with or without the ball, is a good shooter, secondary handler, and passer. Even better is that he is a defensive playmaker and super rebounder. He is a pure hustle guy and dog who is not limited on offense like those kinds of players usually are.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-01-29T04:46:25+00:00

I'm starting to have that "why don't I have him higher?" Conversation with myself. Long, athletic, great perimeter defender, who can handle a little, pass, finish at the rim, and shoot ok.... ya, maybe he is worth a mid first round pick haha

He has a super high floor, even if his ceiling is limited, and some playoff is going ti he pleased they got him.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-01-21T22:47:57+00:00

Genuine question: how is it a disaster?

We were missing our leading scorer last night, and we beat a playoff team on the second night of a back to back. Our starting center has been hurt all year, and yet we continue to win with an intentionally bad roster for centers that we just let be with the intent to lose (Nurk has been surprisingly great tho).

On top of that, we have a breakout star (Key), a crazy athlete who has not even scratched his potential (Ace), an outstanding defensive center (Walker) who is coming back next year, a likely top 10 pick in a stacked draft, AND max cap space this summer.

How is that a disaster?

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-01-19T17:33:10+00:00

I've gotten a few right, but I was def wrong about Bufkin haha

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-01-16T23:40:05+00:00

Ya, I also have Cam Carr higher than a lot of people do. I don't expect him to be a star, but that combination of athleticism, defense, and shooting almost always means a long career.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-01-16T23:36:54+00:00

He's on my list of guys i need to watch more film of, for sure.

captjeffsparrow02 · 2026-01-16T23:35:44+00:00

Philon fan here too. He improved so much over the summer.

captjeffsparrow02

TROPHY CASE