Jabari Brown to Mizzou

Jabari Brown is the latest addition to what could be a very strong Missouri team going forward.

The 6-foot-5 California shooting guard officially pledged to the No. 9 Tigers (11-0) Monday. As SNY.tv first reported earlier Monday, Georgia Tech pulled out of of the Brown sweepstakes.

“Jabari Brown to Mizzou as of today,” David Brown, Jabari’s father, told SNY.tv by text. “This has been a tough, tough time for him. He went to Oregon with every intention of making it work. He’s grateful for the opportunity they gave him. And he regrets that it didn’t work.”

With the departure of star Marcus Denmon, head coach Frank Haith will look to Brown to step into that shooting guard role next season when the Tigers move to the SEC.

The Tigers have a strong five-man class coming in, led by Huntington (W.V.) Prep shooting guard Negus Webster-Chan and power forward Stefan Jankovic.

The Tigers already have a dangerous two-headed point guard monster of Phil Pressey and Mike Dixon, and now they can add a catch-and-shoot guy in Brown, assuming he can learn to play the team concept. He is known for wanting to hoist a fair number of shots.

Brown will join transfers Keion Bell, a guard who averaged 16.4 points at Pepperdine, and former Auburn guard Earnest Ross, who averaged 13.1 points last year.

The staff feels Bell can be an upgrade from Matt Pressey, who graduates, and Ross can be an improvement over Kim English.

The Tigers will also get 6-8 forward Lawrence Bowers back from an ACL injury.

If Haith can get Brown and the other new guys to buy into the team concept, the Tigers could be really good for years to come.

Photo: US Presswire