Brown ends UAAP stint, purses pro play
Promising guard Jared Brown has decided to end his stint in Ateneo and pursue the professional ranks after only one season in the UAAP.
The 5-foot-10 Brown announced the conclusion to his brief collegiate career with the Blue Eagles on Friday, Dec. 22 on an Instagram post.
“I just want to say thank you for all of the support throughout this year. I am extremely blessed and honored to have put on an Ateneo jersey because of the rich and legendary tradition this University has. The love of everyone has been amazing and with that I am forever grateful,” the post read.
“I know my time as a blue eagle has been short but within this year, I can genuinely say I have been a part of a family and a brotherhood that I will cherish forever.”
“For my future I will be transitioning and preparing to become a professional which has been a long life goal of mine. I would not have been able to be in this situation without the support of my family, coaches, teammates, and management.”
The 23-year-old averaged 8.29 points, 1.86 rebounds and 2.43 assists after helping lead 12-time champion Ateneo to a Final Four finish before eventually suffering a rare finals appearance miss.
The Blue Eagles were dethroned by two-time finals rival University of the Philippine Fighting Maroons in their semifinal duel.
Brown, who still had two more years of playing eligibility left, was expected to continue leading the Blue Eagles next season after seeing through their up-and-down campaign.
Shortly after the end of Ateneo’s Season 86 campaign, forward Kai Ballungay was the first to announce his departure from the team as joins the big league after only playing two seasons in the UAAP.