User:Toiletpaper101/sandbox
 Brown (left) attempts a layup in 2015 | |
| No. 2 – Chicago Ballers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| League | JBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 27, 1999 Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 178 lb (81 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Simeon (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Playing career | 2018–present |
| Career history | |
| 2018–present | Chicago Ballers |
Marquis "Kezo" Brown, Jr. (born December 17, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Ballers of the Junior Basketball Association (JBA). He competed for Simeon Career Academy in his hometown of Chicago, where he was considered a three-star recruit and one of the top high school players in Illinois from his freshman year. Despite being sidelined or hospitalized with mental health issues in multiple seasons at Simeon, he continued drawing interest from Chicago State, eventually committing to play for them at the NCAA Division I level. However, Brown later dropped his college plans, instead turning professional in the JBA.
High school career
In the 2014–15 season, Brown became the first freshman to play for Simeon Career Academy under head coach Robert Smith other than Jabari Parker.[1] Before the season, Simeon was ranked 13th in the nation by basketball website MaxPreps, and Smith praised Brown: "He's a true point guard and does the dirty work. He can score but is also great at getting guys open."[2] As a freshman, Brown helped the team finish with a 27–3 record and earn a second-place finish at the Chicago Public League Tournament in 2015.[3] He was considered one of the top freshman in the country, drawing attention from various colleges, including Nebraska and DePaul.[4]
Despite his early success, Brown was sidelined for much of his sophomore season due to a mental health issue, which was undisclosed at the time, playing under 30 total minutes in the season and seeing dwindling interest from colleges.[4][5] However, he began playing again in the following spring, starring on the Mac Irvin Fire Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team.[4] In his junior year, Brown assumed a leading role for Simeon, scoring 26 points in a city title game win over Morgan Park High School.[6] In May 2017, he suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.[5] In the summer, he committed to play college basketball at Chicago State, being considered one of the program's best recruits ever.[7]
In October 2017, it was announced that Brown was in a psychiatric hospital.[5] As a result, he would be sidelined for his entire senior season at Simeon. However, he was still expected to graduate high school.[8]
Professional career
References
- ^ Breen, Justin (December 10, 2014). "Simeon Freshman Kezo Brown Joins Jabari Parker in Elite Company". DNAinfo. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ Hickman, Jason (November 4, 2014). "MaxPreps 2014-15 Preseason Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings". MaxPreps. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ "Marquis Brown". USA Basketball. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c O'Brien, Michael (May 14, 2016). "The return of Kezo Brown". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c O'Brien, Michael (October 4, 2017). "Simeon's Kezo Brown hospitalized, may miss senior season". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ O'Brien, Michael (February 19, 2017). "Kezo Brown sparks Simeon to city title". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ Mitchell, Greg (July 14, 2017). "Chicago State may have gotten its best recruit ever". Mid Major Madness. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
- ^ O'Brien, Michael (May 19, 2018). "Kezo Brown is going pro, will play in LaVar Ball's JBA". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 12, 2018.