In the first blog entry on Saint Joseph's 2011 recruiting targets, we will take a look at 6'4 Penn Wood (PA) junior Aaron Brown. Why Aaron Brown for the first entry? Over the past winter, he was one of the most talked-about players in the Philadelphia area, and one with definite interest from many of the local schools. Saint Joseph's and Temple are two of the local colleges paying especially close attention to the 6'4 wing. In addition to Temple and SJU, West Virginia, Rice, and Richmond are among the other schools recruiting Brown heavily.
Over this past season, I was able to watch Brown a number of times. Brown's best game came in the District 1 Finals at Villanova, when Brown led Penn Wood past CJ Aiken and the Plymouth-Whitemarsh Colonials. A link to that game recap, and a number of others, is below.
Aaron is an exceptionally athletic player on the wing. Each time I saw Aaron this winter, he had at least one eye-popping dunk or acrobatic finish in the lane. Due to his athleticism, quickness, and strength, he is a solid rebounder from the wing, and also has the makings of a very good college defender. Over the course of the season, one of the biggest improvements in Aaron's game was his jumper. What was once a weakness in his game has become a valuable weapon. While Aaron may not be a true shooting guard, he is a more-than-capable shooter from the wing. He is best off the dribble, getting into the lane and finishing at, or above, the rim.
Where do the Hawks stand with Brown? The coaching staff was a presence at nearly every game that Aaron played this season. Assistant coach Geoff Arnold in particular has been tracking Brown. Since the high school season ended, the Hawks did receive a commitment from 2010 recruit Pat Swilling Jr, who will also play in the backcourt. Aaron Brown does things on the court that every team needs. His competitive spirit, athleticism, and continued improvement as a player, will likely make him a hot commodity over the coming AAU season. While Aaron is one of the more recognizable names when it comes to 2011 SJU recruiting, there are a number of others. I will look into more of those names in the coming week.
PW beats Penn Wood in State Finals
Aaron Brown Leads Penn Wood to District One Title
Penn Wood Defeats Bensalem in District One Playoffs
Penn Wood Rolls Over Chester
Image Above from MaxPreps.com
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