6-foot-7 inch Jaylen Brown, who on Friday committed to Cal, is one of the nation’s elite players. With a body tailor made for the wing position, combining grace and powerful explosiveness, his upside has scouts drooling. He came across as extremely down to Earth and thoughful kid when we sat down with him after practice at the Nike Hoop Summit in early April.
NBADraft.net: How’s the event been so far?
Jaylen Brown: Good. USA Basketball. A lot of talent. Lot of eyes on you. Love the challenge.
NBADraft.net: I was over in Treviso, Italy (last June) and got a chance to see you compete at the adidas Eurocamp. You were playing against guys that were lot older than you, and you guys were losing games pretty handily, and you didn’t get down. You fought through it. There were a lot of scouts there watching that came away impressed with you. Talk about that experience.
Jaylen Brown: That was a great event. Playing against a lot of older competition. European style of basketball. Lot of guys from all different countries, and playing against National teams, so it made it interesting.
NBADraft.net: How did it help your game this year?
Jaylen Brown: Just seeing a different style of basketball. Trying to communicate better. Learning to play the right way. The European style is less about isolation and individual play and more about the team, so you have to play with a higher skill level.
NBADraft.net: Talk about what makes this event (Hoop Summit) so special.
Jaylen Brown: It’s special because of bragging rights. USA has always been the mecca of basketball. Players come here and face us with a chip on their shoulder, they really want to beat us. We set out to show that we’re not only the best players in the Country but in the World.
NBADraft.net: How important is it to win the game?
Jaylen Brown: Very important. We want it bad. I know they probably want it bad too. We just have to show that we want it more.
NBADraft.net: Do you embrace the role of being a leader?
Jaylen Brown: Yes. Well there’s definitely a learning process. Leaders strive to communicate. As I get older, and experience different teams and different people and experiences, I think you learn to react certain ways. There has to be a struggle before getting better. It’s a process and I can become a better leader.
NBADraft.net: Describe your game for people that haven’t seen you before.
Jaylen Brown: Very passionate. Very good in transition. I like to make plays for others, find the open man. Score the ball.
NBADraft.net: Who’s the top player in the game?
Jaylen Brown: Other than me? I would have to go with Ben Simmons.
