Oakland High standout Jabari Brown (32) had the game-winning assist in the 2009 CIF Division IV state final as a teammate of Dominic Artis at Salesian-Richmond. The following season, he spent two months with Findlay College Prep before returning home because of family reasons. He finished out his career with Oakland and earned a full scholarship to Oregon. Jonathan Hawthorne/ SportStars file (facing page) Bob Larson/SportStars file (right)
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Findlay Prep helped popularize it with the lure of Las Vegas and the financial backing. They were able to jump start their program quicker than most.” Even though Brown left, he never regretted the move. He got homesick, wanted to play with his brother Jamil Brown and childhood AAU chums T.J. Taylor, Dominique Taplin and Andrew Nash at Oakland High. He played 1½ seasons for Oakland and earned All-American while averaging more than 23 points and seven rebounds per game last season. “I left originally to play at the top level of competition and see if I could stack up against the best,” he said. “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.” His roller coast ride through high school — three different high schools in three years — worked out fine. He earned a full ride to Oregon, where he’ll attend in the fall. Peck told Hickman such a free choice for the basketball elite resembles Europe’s academy approach. “Absolutely I could see it with the elite-level kids,” Peck said. “People see what has happened with players like Cory Joseph, Tristan Thompson and Avery Bradley as a result of them being here. “They don’t want to plateau. They want to improve and get better at a faster rate than they would by going through a traditional high school in their hometown — experiencing the travel, living away from home, the game schedule, practice day in and day out.” Other than living away from home, Mellis thinks the same experience is possible without hitching up the trailer. “I think our kids are enjoying themselves,” he said, “and playing at a pretty high level too.” ✪
July 28, 2011
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