2021 five-star wing Kendall Brown committed to Baylor on Monday, he announced on Instagram. With his decision, he became the third player to commit to Baylor in the past week, joining Langston Love and European forward Jeremy Sochan.
Brown’s decision could be a big step forward for Baylor. Choosing Scott Drew’s program over offers from Kansas, Minnesota, Virginia, Ohio State and Arizona, among others, Brown, who ranks No. 16 in the ESPN 100 for 2021, became Baylor’s highest-ranked recruit since Isaiah Austin in 2012. The combination of Brown, Love and Sochan gives Drew a chance of getting his first top-five class since 2012.
Brown told ESPN.com he felt now was the right time to commit. To him, waiting didn’t make sense, since the recruiting cycle is on hold until at least the end of August.
Love’s commitment also sped up the process, he said in the interview. The two previously connected at the USA Basketball camp, and renewing their connection made it easier to choose the Bears.
Per ESPN, Brown favored the Bears because of Drew’s history developing big, athletic forwards like Taurean Prince. Prince went from not starting a game and averaging under four points as a freshman to starting 34 games and averaging 15.9 points as a senior, evolving into a first-round draft pick. Motivated by Prince’s path, Brown sees Baylor as the best way to evolve into the player he wants to be.
“It’s a big Christian school and I like that,” he said to ESPN. “Coach Drew has lots of energy and he is a player’s coach. My versatility and their style of play on offense fits me. I believe he will help me get to the next level.”.
According to 247Sports’ director of national recruiting Jerry Meyer, Brown has the length and athleticism to compete as a wing in college. His skillset is headlined by quickness and his ability to play multiple positions, Meyer said in the scouting report.