DeWayne Brown named Alabama’s 2025 Mr. Basketball

[kamoshika]

“He’s been a joy to coach since he walked on campus in the ninth grade,” [Hoover coach Scott] Ware said. “He’s been an ambassador – not just for basketball – but for Hoover High and the City of Hoover as well. He’s an excellent student. He is seen in high regard by his peers who selected him as Mr. Hoover and, obviously, it’s been incredible what he has done on the court. I don’t know that people understand how high his basketball IQ is. They obviously see his size, shooting touch, his hands, but his basketball IQ is off the chart.”

“I can see him being a high-level player at Tennessee and, hopefully, one day will get to move on and play for a living,” Ware said. “I know that is his goal. We still see him working everyday toward that. He has the work ethic, the skill and the ability to accomplish whatever he wants. We think he has a chance to be a really good player for a long time.”

Brown said he leaves for Knoxville on May 27.
Hoover star, Tennessee signee DeWayne Brown named Alabama’s 2025 Mr. Basketball

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Wow, kudos to Brown, he has REALLY changed his body over the last 12-18 months, looks lean and ready to roll

 

[VolHoopsInTheMix]

His shooting touch is a little overlooked. He could eventually turn into a solid stretch big Who can score from all 3 levels. From what I've seen.

 

[VolArmy74]

Not sure if On3 is the latest measurement, but he's listed at 235 on there now. He was listed at 265 on some services last summer. I did see that he's 6'6.5 barefoot. Or was at least. So probably 6'8 in shoes.

 

[Special Ed]

He looks like the sort of studly 5 the Vols have been needing for a long time now.
Talent will out.

 

[CornbreadVol]

Any chance he can push for limited playing time this year? I know our front court is already kind of loaded but I just keep looking at Florida this past year and hoe they were ache to rotate fresh bigs in.

 

[Stoked]

He looks like the sort of studly 5 the Vols have been needing for a long time now.

Probably a 4 but yeah.

 

[Rockytopoftheworld]

He looks like an undersized SEC big man, but that doesn’t necessarily spell doom. We’ve had some really effective undersized bigs. He’s going to have to find an edge in other ways: rebounding, hustle, defensive intensity, bball IQ, step out and hit a three, etc - or all of the above : )

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Would love for him to develop into a bigger Grant. This team has not really had anyone since Grant who had a consistent low post game. Should have been DJ burns but he couldn't get in good enough shape for Barnes

 

[cncchris33]

Any chance he can push for limited playing time this year? I know our front court is already kind of loaded but I just keep looking at Florida this past year and hoe they were ache to rotate fresh bigs in.

He's entering a crowded frontcourt, right now. Any playing time would probably be pretty limited, but an injury and/or transfer could change that outlook.

 

[Voluntarius]

He's a bit lighter, taller, and quicker than the lightly recruited Charles Barkley was as the #7 player out of Alabama in 1981. Can Barnes turn him into the beast that the round-mound turned out to be? Heck yeah, he can.

 

[walkenvol]

He's a bit lighter, taller, and quicker than the lightly recruited Charles Barkley was as the #7 player out of Alabama in 1981. Can Barnes turn him into the beast that the round-mound turned out to be? Heck yeah, he can.

Does Brown have a 42” vertical like Chuck did?

 

[SlyStone]

Hoping this kid gets some game minutes.

 

[Derek Reese's jumpshot]

He's a bit lighter, taller, and quicker than the lightly recruited Charles Barkley was as the #7 player out of Alabama in 1981. Can Barnes turn him into the beast that the round-mound turned out to be? Heck yeah, he can.

Charles Barkley gets talked about like he was 6’2 and 400 pounds.

He did not get fat until he got old…he was super athletic, skilled, strong, and could go coast to coast and dunk it on your head.

Please do not compare this guy to an all-time great.

 

[walkenvol]

Charles Barkley gets talked about like he was 6’2 and 400 pounds.

He did not get fat until he got old…he was super athletic, skilled, strong, and could go coast to coast and dunk it on your head.

Please do not compare this guy to an all-time great.

Not true - Barkley was chunky at Auburn but amazingly athletic and explosive for his size

 

[Voluntarius]

Charles Barkley gets talked about like he was 6’2 and 400 pounds.

He did not get fat until he got old…he was super athletic, skilled, strong, and could go coast to coast and dunk it on your head.

Please do not compare this guy to an all-time great.

I must not have articulated my comparison well, as you missed the point. And, I didn't knock Barkley's "girth" at all. I just noted that they were both from Alabama, and similar in several ways. I certainly wasn't saying Brown is anywhere near the player at this point that Barkley eventually became at Auburn. If we get even half that, he's a good pickup for us.

 

[Derek Reese's jumpshot]

I must not have articulated my comparison well, as you missed the point. And, I didn't knock Barkley's "girth" at all. I just noted that they were both from Alabama, and similar in several ways. I certainly wasn't saying Brown is anywhere near the player at this point that Barkley eventually became at Auburn. If we get even half that, he's a good pickup for us.

I gotcha. I’m excited to see what he can do!

 

[livefaith]

Any chance he can push for limited playing time this year? I know our front court is already kind of loaded but I just keep looking at Florida this past year and hoe they were ache to rotate fresh bigs in.

Yes they were. I hope Brown develops well and we can throw bigs at our problems like UF could this year.

 

[BigorangeBoy]

Not true - Barkley was chunky at Auburn but amazingly athletic and explosive for his size

He was 260 lbs as a freshman, I remember when they came to Stokley the UT cheerleaders gave him a pizza. He was humored, I think it was his birthday.

I remember the UK fans chanting “fat boy” in Lexington, and he proceeded to abuse Melvin Turpin to the tune of like 26 points and 14 rebounds.

That AU team had four HS all Americans in their starting lineup - Barkley, Mike Morris, Gerald Williams- and I forget the fourth. Sonny Smith was lacking as a floor coach.