A star is born at Joliet Catholic
Brown, a sophomore, goes ‘through the roof’ to earn MVP at Blue Star All-America Camp
Joliet Catholic sophomore Jasmine Brown said shewas honored and excited to be invited to the 2020 Blue Star All-America Camp.
Shewas a bit surprised at leaving Tampa as theMVP for the 2023 class.
“Yeah, I was,” Brown said. “I mean, the talent therewas kind of through the roof. Therewas a lot of competition.
“I’m just glad that Iwas picked tobe there. Itwas special.”
Special is awordwe’ve been using to describe Brown almost fromthe day she put on a uniform for Joliet Catholic in girls basketball.
As a freshman, the 5foot-8 guard led the varsity in minutes played. She used them productively, averaging 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals. The Angelswon a regional title for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
That’s pretty special. JCA coach Jim O’Brien wasn’t surprised Brown earned theMVPaward in Florida.
“She texted me after she got it,” O’Brien said. “Iwas super excited for her, super excited for her family. She’s an unbelievable kid, humble with everything she does.
“Iwasn’t surprised because I think she’s the best player in the state. Of course, I’m biased.”
So I checked with someone who isn’t.
JasonNicholswon nearly 600 games and four state titles during a 20-year career as a head coach at Trinity andMontini. He recentlywas named the headwomen’s basketball coach atMorton College.
He knows a thing or 10 about talent.
Nicholswas an evaluator of the 60 players who participated at the Blue Star event. He saweverything Brown did during the three days.
“Oh, my God, shewas really good,” Nichols said. “The funny thingwas, I waswatching this kid but I wasn’t putting the name to the player.
“Shewas so strong for a kid her age. She had such a base on everything she did. Her pullup, midrange jumperwas one of the best I’d seen. Her ability to fight through contact and finish at the rimwas unbelievable.”
ThenNichols asked a fellowevaluator if he knew who shewas.
“He toldme, ‘Yeah, that’s the kid fromyour area that goes to Joliet Catholic,’” Nichols said. “Then Iwent and looked atmy info and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, it’s Jasmine Brown.’ I’d heard a lot about her playing with Example Sports, but in Florida, Iwasn’t expecting the Illinois kid in this camp.
“When I sawitwas her, I introducedmyself and started talking to her. She had an unbelievable camp. Shewas literally one of the top two kids there.”
The twoMVPs for the weekendwere Brown and JaelaDavis, a girl from the Tampa area. To say the least, itwas a splendidway to end a longweekend of skills and competition.
“Going in, I tried to be nonchalant about it,” Brown said. “You have to showwhat youwant to showand notworry so much about the other players.
“Iwas justworrying aboutmyself, about showing why I should be there and why I should be getting noticed by colleges. Iwas very proud to get the award.”
When I talked with Brown back inMarch, she was already getting noticed by colleges. She received offers fromLewis, Illinois State, Illinois and Michigan. Penn State, Belmont, St. Joseph, Virginia Tech, Purdue andOhio State were all showing interest.
That list is sure to get much larger as Brown continues her high school career. She really perked up when I mentioned that the new seasonwas onlyweeks away— pending, of course, state approval and no setbacks on theCOVID-19 front.
“I am so excited for sophomore year,” Brown said. “I really dowant to get further thanwe did last year. Me and JennaHernandez talk about it all the time. We’re going into it with a feeling of unfinished business.
“We’re going to try to everything to stay clean during practices because we reallywant a season. It’s the new normal. If they say we have to play in a mask … I’ll do anything just to play.”
Spoken like a true star.