After opening his recruitment back up in June, Newark (N.J.) St. Anthony’s guard Josh Brown is starting to take visits to other campuses, the first being to Penn State on Wednesday.
Brown visited Penn State on Tuesday.
Making the four-hour drive from New Jersey, the No. 132 ranked player in the country by 247Sports took in the University Park campus and got a good feel of the school.
“The visit was great, I loved Coach Chambers’ energy, its all about family over there,” said Brown. “I like the way he is running the program off of attitude, it was really good.”
The class of 2013 point guard broke down his visit, including his meeting with an old friend on the football team.
“We took a tour and they showed us the campus, got to meet the whole staff,” said Brown. “Angelo Mangiro used to play on my AAU team before he came to Penn State to play football, so it was good to see him. Then we got to see the football field which was crazy, it was real. The Bryce Jordan Center was nice too.”
Admitting Penn State helped its standing after the visit, Brown listed the Nittany Lions, Providence, Rhode Island, Nebraska and Xavier as the other schools in the running alongside Temple - who Brown says is No. 1 right now, “just because I was committed there and I know so much about it already.”
Describing himself as a true point guard, the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder credited St. Anthony’s legendary high school coach, Bob Hurley, with drilling positive habits into his game.
“I’m a leader, I play with a chip on my shoulder, and I play hard - playing for St. Anthony’s and Coach Hurley, he’s instilled that in me - I also play smart,” said Brown of his own game. “One of my strengths is I know I can get into the lane whenever I want, but I’m also trying to get the big men involved down low, just anything we can to make winning plays.”
Admittedly needing to work on his jump shot, Brown went more in-depth on how the second-year Penn State head coach would use his skill set.
“Coach was saying I have a chance to come in with Tim Frazier leaving and start, he was straight up about it saying I’d have to work for it, but I would have a chance to play,” Brown said. “Alongside their other recruit (Geno Thorpe), saying he’s a great slasher, a combo guard who could play the one so I could play off the ball, really work together.
“And Brandon Taylor, I played against him when he was with Team Philly, and also when he was at Trenton Catholic, he’s a good versatile player who can shoot, and can be used in a lot of ways.”
Playing this summer for the successful Sports U AAU program - which finished sixth in the country this season - Brown was able to work on some aspects of his game and form relationships with a few high school rivals.
In the end, what does Brown say about the visit to Penn State that will leave a lasting impression?
“Just Coach Chambers’ energy sticks out,” he said. “He’s really passionate about his job and Penn State, and I just know everything that comes out of his mouth is true, it isn’t just a recruiting pitch.”
Going forward, Brown plans to take a few unofficial visits before scheduling officials, as the senior guard explained where he stands right now.
“I want to commit, but I’m not in any rush to make a decision,” he said. “I’m just looking for the right place. I know that this is a lifetime dream getting a scholarship to college, making the right choice to a school will benefit me for the rest of my life, so I’m just taking my time and seeing what every school has to offer.”
- Andrew Dzurita
- Contributor - Lions247