OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland senior
Jabari Brown says he doesn't get nervous before games any more. At the prep level, he's pretty much done it all.
Jabari Brown has weaved through
a remarkable high school career.
Photo by Dennis Stiff
Won a state title for
Salesian (Richmond) as a sophomore. Played for mythical national champion
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) as a junior. Earned the MVP at one of the most prestigious summer tournaments in the country – the Fab 48 in Las Vegas – leading the Oakland-based Drew Gooden Soldiers to the title.
On Thursday he practically got knocked out, scraping his left eyebrow against the side of a backboard just before sending down an empathetic dunk during a 73-57 CIF Northern California Division I quarterfinal win over Jesuit-Carmichael.
"I've seen it (hitting your head on the backboard) on tape but never in person," Oakland coach Orlando Watkins. "Never at any level."
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound do-everything guard is the 14th-top recruit in the country – according to MaxPreps.com – and he's signed and sealed to play at Oregon next season.
But now he's feeling butterflies. His high school career is one loss from closing. Fourth seed Oakland (20-8) plays No. 1
Castro Valley (29-1) in a 7 p.m. semifinal game Saturday at Washington High in Fremont.
"I don't want it to end," Brown said after his 30-point, 10-rebound effort on Thursday.
Brown has averaged more than
27 points per game in the
playoffs.
Photo by Dennis Stiff
When he was helped off the court the public address announcer called him
one of the greatest Oakland Athletic League players ever.
"I want to win a state championship for our school and if I'm
considered the next great player from the OAL that would be great," he said.
Bill Russell played in the OAL. So did Paul Silas, Gary Payton and Leon Powe. With his size, strength, shooting range, passing and court awareness, most agree Brown, at this stage, is in their league.
But none, Watkins said, has ever been under a tighter microscope.
"I've never seen a kid more scrutinized at such an early age," he said. "By the eighth grade you'd hear or read that he can't do this or he can do that. Some couldn't wait for him to fall on his face."
His most criticized decision was to leave Salesian after his sophomore season, then transfer twice more within the next six months.
He landed back at his hometown public school team with his brother
Jamil Brown and childhood AAU chums
T.J. Taylor,
Dominique Taplin and
Andrew Nash.
On Thursday, he said he wouldn't change any of his decisions.
Brown led the Soldiers
to a Fab 48 title.
Photo by Nick Koza
"I think it all happened for a reason," he said. "I've learned from every one of my experiences and every step.
"I left originally to play at the top level of competition and see if I could stack up against the best. That didn't work out. There were some family tragedies back home (deaths of a cousin and a best friend. His grandmother was also terminally ill). All that combined was tough. I came back home to family for support and to support others."
As far as the microscope: "My family, my friends, my coaches have helped me keep my head. It's something that happens at all levels. Look at guys like Kobe and LeBron, they get more flak than anyone. I'm not comparing myself to them, but a lot of this stuff comes with the territory.
"I try not to read the blogs. A lot of that is people just filled with hate who don't really know what's going on in a kid's life."
Watkins said critics has made Brown more guarded with strangers, that his scowls on the court don't reflect his easy-going, playful manner with peers.
"I can't say where he ranks on the court be he definitely has one of the top five smiles in Oakland High history," Watkins said. "When he flashes it, the whole mood of any situation changes."
Brown has been smiling lately. He's scored at least 26 in three postseason games after averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the regular season. Oakland, which has underachieved most of the year, appears to have hit full flight.
Just like Brown's back-board grazing dunk on Thursday.
"We're starting to hit our stride," Brown said. "Just at the right time."
Brown featured on the Friday 5 back in February 
