The University of Texas has used its one available basketball scholarship by signing J’Covan Brown, a 6-2 combo guard from Port Arthur Memorial ranked as the 40th best player in the nation by Rivals.com.
Brown’s timing could not be better, especially with the announcements earlier in the week by D.J. Augustin (expected) that he would enter the NBA draft, and A.J. Abrams (perhaps not expected) that he would do likewise. One caveat is that neither Augustin nor Abrams has hired an agent, which means if they pull their name out of the draft by June 16 they can return to Texas. Augustin is still expected to enter and has been projected all over the first-round draft board. Abrams is basically “testing the waters” on his status and could well return for Rick Barnes next year.
Brown, meanwhile, should come in with fresh legs after only playing 11 games his senior year for the Titans. Despite averaging almost 30 points per game, Brown was dismissed from the team by coach Terrul Henderson in December after leaving the team bench in the fourth quarter in a game where he had received a technical foul.
Brown averaged almost 27 points per game his junior year after playing his first two seasons at Beaumont Kelly.
Despite making an oral commitment to the Longhorns, Brown’s signature did not come through until earlier in the week during the now open spring national signing period.
