UConn head coach Kevin Ollie shouts instructions during a victory over Furman at Gampel Pavilion. Ollie has landed a top 10 recruiting class in 2017, bolstered by the signing of 5 star center Zach Brown. (Ashley Maher/The Daily Campus)
Zach Brown, the No. 25 ranked recruit in ESPN’s class of 2017, has committed to UConn, according Reggie Rankin of ESPN. Brown is the Huskies’ first commit for the recruiting class of 2017.
Brown visited campus yesterday and was also sitting behind UConn’s bench during the team’s game against Tulane. He is the Huskies’ first commit for the recruiting class of 2017.
“Zach is so excited with (the) family and brotherhood of UConn’s team and staff and fans,” his guardian Michael Lipman told ESPN. “(He) loves incoming recruiting class to compete for national championship.”
Brown, a 7-foot, 260 pound center from Miami, Florida, also received offers from Kentucky, Florida, Kansas, Miami (FL), North Carolina State, Ohio State, South Carolina and UCLA, according to ESPN.
Last season, Brown averaged 19.3 points, 17 rebounds, and 8.8 blocks per game as a sophomore for Miami Beach Senior High School. ESPN calls Brown “an imposing physical presence” with “terrific hands, a willingness to go right into contact, and good poise with his back to the basket.”
Kevin Ollie has a top 10 recruiting class in 2016 with players such as No. 28 Alterique Gilbert, No. 38 Juwan Durham, No. 76 Vance Jackson and No. 92 Mamadou Diarra. Ollie is off to a good start in 2017 with a Top-25 player.
Associate Sports Editor Dan Madigan contributed to this report.
Matt Zampini is the sports editor for The Daily Campus, covering men’s basketball. He can be reached via email at matthew.zampini@uconn.edu. He tweets @Mattt_Zamp.