Lorenzo Brown At The '09 Louisburg Tournament

Lorenzo Brown 09-10 Schedule/Stats

Brown Officially Inks with Pack

With all the excitement here in Raleigh around the Harrow signing, many may have forgotten that another big time Wolfpack commit also made his decision official. Lorenzo Brown signed his scholarship papers today in the early afternoon at Hargrave Military academy. 

Brown did not sign his LOI since recruits can only sign that one time and Lorenzo signed his last season. He did, however, sign his scholarship papers and had them faxed over to the University today. We will have more on Brown's signing later.

HoopMixTape: Lorenzo Brown vs. Oak Hill

HOOPMIXTAPE: Zo Posterizes Two Oak Hill Defenders

Brown Goes Bonkers Against Oak Hill

Last night we were on location at Pulaski County High School in Dublin, Virginia to catch NC State (re-) commit Lorenzo Brown, and Hargrave, take on OaK Hill academy in a preseason scrimmage. This was only the second time we've been able to catch Lorenzo Brown in person, and it was a real treat. Brown was, in my opinion, better than advertised tonight as he dropped 26 points against a very talented Oak Hill team. When watching Lorenzo, the first word that crosses your mind is "smooth." It's remarkable the way he glides down the court. He truly makes the game look easy as he crosses over, spins and finishes in traffic.

Brown uses his smooth style to lull defenders to sleep before he kicks it into high gear and leaves them in the dust. He is much quicker than I had remembered, and uses hesitation and change of speed to create space. When he gets in the lane, Zo likes to punch it down. While Brown does possess a nifty and accurate floater, he doesn't hesitate to hammer down a highlight reel dunk. On the break tonight, he gave everyone in attendance an example. Brown threw the crowd into a frenzy when he rose up on, not one, but two Oak Hill defenders, putting them on the wrong end of a posterization. The kid can really fly and is more athletic than most give him credit for.

While both teams played extremely hard, there was not much attention paid to the score. Oak Hill won the first half, and after the score was set back to zero/zero, Hargrave won the second half. Lorenzo's shot looked nice and fluid. Zo drained two threes, however, most of his damage was done slashing.

In the end, we were very impressed with Lorenzo. If he is included in this class by the scouting outlets, there is no way he should drop below the top 25 mark based on what we've seen out of the 2010 class. He's that good. His speed, handles, athleticism and size make him nearly unstoppable at this level.

Lorenzo Brown Recommits to NC State

Lorenzo Brown originally committed to NC State back in July of 2008. NC State's 2009 recruiting class was ranked as the 11th best one in the nation, with Lorenzo Brown as the gem of the class. Before graduating from Centennial High School (Alpharetta, GA) this past Spring, some complications arose in Brown's academic eligibility and Brown was forced to spend the 2009-10 season in prep school at Hargrave Military Academy. With Lorenzo not enrolling at NC State this fall, the original letter of intent that he had signed was washed away. In all reality, Brown was free to check out his options, commit or sign with another school. This alarmed many Wolfpack fans, who understood the commodity that Brown was, and that it was a guarantee that other schools would come knocking on his door.

While Brown will still have to sign his letter of intent,( he will do so in November) he gave NC State fans assurance tonight that he was still set on donning the Red and White, by recommitting to the Pack before tonight's scrimmage between Hargrave and Oak Hill.

"I'm coming back to NC State. I recommitted today," Brown told us. "I really came to Hargrave, because Coach Lowe said it was a good program that would give me structure, and that is what I needed in my life."

Over the past couple of months, Brown has learned a lot from his time at Hargrave, a school that prides itself in discipline and structure.

"It's been really good and it's been really tough," Brown told us. "It gives you a lot of structure, and it makes you really look forward to basketball. After all of the military stuff...you really look forward to basketball."

NC State's current 2010 recruiting class of Ryan Harrow, Lorenzo Brown and Luke Cothron is a consensus Top-10 class. We asked Lorenzo what he thought of his incoming teammates.

"I can't even tell you about this class. It's crazy," Brown told us. "I've played against Luke and I know he's real good. With Ryan being my god-brother, I know we'll just be able to do our thing back there in the backcourt."

With Brown solidifying his commitment to NC State today, the Wolfpack fans have reason to believe that things in Raleigh could be getting pretty exciting in the near future.

Recruits at the NC State vs. Pitt Football Game

As earlier reported, there were a few big time recruits at the football game tonight. Luke Cothron and Lorenzo Brown were reportedly on hand to watch the Pack take on Big East powerhouse Pitt. We did not see Ryan Harrow who later informed us that he was unable to make the trip to Raleigh this weekend. 

This makes the third straight game that Luke Cothron has attended. A great sign for the Wolfpack, who has already been named his favorite.  Luke has told us recently that he is going to try to make it to most home Wolfpack football games this season. There are also reports that CJ Williams, Jordan Vandenberg and Josh Davis were also on hand to take in the action. 

Happy Birthday Lorenzo Brown!

Today is NC State commit Lorenzo Brown's 19th birthday. Zo, who was originally in NC State's '09 class, was the #28 player overall in his class according to Scout (#37 according to Rivals). NC State fans should be stoked with the 1-2 punch that the Pack has coming in in '10 with God-brothers Lorenzo Brown and Ryan Harrow. Happy Birthday Lorenzo!



ONE Entertainment gets credit for the photo.

Lorenzo Brown To Play at Hargrave in 2009

We have confirmed that 2009 NC State commit and no. 28 ranked player in the class, Lorenzo Brown, did not qualify academically and will not be attending NC State University next season. He will instead enroll at Hargrave Military Academy, a prep school in Chatham, Virginia. Due to privacy concerns we have been asked to not get into further detail about his academic situation, however, we were assured that Lorenzo is still set on running with the Wolfpack. He will now be re-classified in the class of 2010, joining five star point guard, his god-brother, Ryan Harrow.

So what does this mean? What it means is that the backcourt rotation just got a little thinner. Brown was not expected to start right off the bat for the Pack, but would have certainly played a big role off the bench. This turn of events has put more weight on the shoulders of sophomores CJ Williams and Julius Mays, who will both be looked upon to handle the ball more and score. CJ is off to a nice start this summer in the prestigious PRO-Am League, as he's dropped 24, 10, and 15 in his first three games. This will also cause Coach Lowe to get creative with his line-ups. Farnold Degand could very well see more time at the "2" behind CJ Williams. It will also, most likely, cause Williams to strictly play the "2 guard" position and not slide over to small forward as much, putting more pressure on Scott Wood and Johnny Thomas to produce out of that position.

While it will certainly hurt the Wolfpack in 2009, Brown will now have one more year of prep play under his belt, an extra year to improve and mature, and likely 4 years to team up with Harrow instead of 3.

Lorenzo Brown Highlight Reel

Here's a Lorenzo Brown (2009 NC State Commit) highlight reel with a lot of never before seen footage, courtesy of our friends over at OneEntertainment.

Lorenzo Brown Update

We've been receiving emails and comments galore with people wanting to know "What's going on with Lorenzo Brown." We've talked to a few people including Lorenzo himself and what we can say right now is that there seems to be nothing to worry about.

Brown's been a bit frustrated lately about the rumors swirling around so we wanted to come out and set some of the record straight in his behalf.

Elite athletes in high school are usually spread very thin, with playing for their high school, dealing with the media, traveling throughout the nation for all-star games and keeping up with the classwork necessary to graduate.

Apparently there was a miscommunication and Lorenzo will have to tie up some loose ends before he heads to Raleigh for good. We've been told that there is nothing to worry about and that Brown should be good to go, although he may not be in Raleigh until a bit later in the summer.

"I'll be there next weekend" Brown told us. Lorenzo will be heading up to Raleigh to take his official visit, something he never got to do during the season since he was so busy. Although he's already signed his LOI, there's no reason to sit on an official visit when you still have one to use. This will allow Brown to get on campus, meet some of his teammates and talk to the coaches face to face.

All in all, we are told there is nothing to worry about and this can be looked upon as a closed case for the time being. We're looking forward to catching up again with Lorenzo when he gets on campus in August.

VIDEO: Lorenzo Brown Vs. Walton (Regional Tournament)

On February 20th, 2009, Lorenzo Brown led the Centennial Knights to a victory over the Walton Raiders in the Regional Tournament. He had 29 points in the 84-76 win. Watch him work. (remember to click the HQ button at the bottom after you press play)


Thanks to PlayBallYall.com who originally filmed this video.

KEEP IT COMING: 2009 Recruiting Class Gets More National Attention

We already had a pretty decent recap on the Reebok game, featuring 2009 commits Lorenzo Brown and Richard Howell, but if I know NC State fans then I know that there is never too much information to be had. Which is why when we came across this excerpt from NBAdraft.net we felt like it was necessary to pass it on:


G Lorenzo Brown - 6-3, 186 lbs. - Centennial (Ga.) - Signed to N.C. State
Few players looked as comfortable with the ball in their hands as Brown. He's listed as a shooting guard, but I full believe he could take over the reigns as a point guard, and not even just a scoring point. He finished with 13 points and a number of really nice passes, as well as penetrating more often and easier than just about any player in the game. His play down the stretch aided Team Create in keeping things close as much as anyone.


SF Richard Howell - 6-8, 235 - Wheeler HS (Ga.) - Signed to N.C. State
Howell was one of the most impressive players in practice Thursday, showing great hand-eye coordination and the ability to produce in the post. But in the game, he came out flat, scoring just 6 points. I like where he could be, even if he's not there yet. He has the potential to bulk up a little bit and become a very nice post player, or work on his perimeter skills and make a mark as a swingman.


It’s amazing the amount of positive publicity this 2009 class is getting from the national media. It seems like everyday someone else is coming out and giving our commits some serious props. People are starting to take notice that something is going on in Raleigh. They’re starting to see some major names listing NC State. This 2009 class has people talking…Here is what ESPN has to say about the incoming class:

NC STATE
After continually doing an outstanding job on the recruiting trail and putting together top-level classes, NC State has to endure head-to-head competition against two schools who regularly fill their rosters with players from the McDonald's Game. Not that Sidney Lowe is complaining, but such is the plight that drove Herb Sendek to ASU after dealing with the same issues. With a roster chock-full of juniors and seniors, Coach Lowe desired a recruiting class that could keep him competitive in the powerful ACC -- and the Class of 2009 is just what the doctor ordered. Lowe tapped into the never-ending talent pool of the state of Georgia to nab ESPNU 100 prospects G Lorenzo Brown (Roswell, Ga./Centennial) and PF Richard Howell (Marietta, Ga./Wheeler). Brown, although not the quickest point guard, has all the skill and savvy to be a dynamite player for the Wolfpack. He is very good off the dribble and has the overall talent to make an immediate impact -- and possibly start from the moment he steps on campus. Howell can be a nightmare matchup for opponents. He has the strength and bounce to finish around the basket. However, what makes him so difficult to stop is his quickness, which he utilizes to take opponents off the bounce. While Brown and Howell get most of the attention, Lowe might have found one of the top sleepers in the country in 6-6 Scott Wood (Marion, Ind.). Wood is recognized as one of the most prolific shooters in the country. With Brown's penetration ability, Wood should be available for some ideal catch-and-shoot situations.

Yeah, I know. We are excited too.

WOLFPACK HOOPS VIDEO: Lorenzo Brown Drops 30 on Walton

Most of you have already seen this video since we posted it a few weeks back. However, we've received a slew of emails asking us to move to a video server that can host HD videos. You asked for it, you got it. We've been putting in a lot of time to move all of our lesser quality videos over to YouTube, for the time being, so you can view them in HD. We'll be releasing most of them in the next week. Enjoy! (and remember to click the "HQ" button, that appears after you hit play, at the bottom of the video to view in HD)

Lorenzo Represents at the Reebok

We have searched the World Wide Web all over and have finally found someone recapping the Reebok All-Star Game from this past Saturday night featuring NC State commits Lorenzo Brown and Richard Howell. Here is what we were able to find. SLAM ONLINE did a recap of the game and this is what they had to say about Lorenzo:

"North Carolina State recruit Lorenzo Brown teamed with future ACC opponent Mfon Udofia (going to Ga Tech) to make it a game. Both players are super talented and explosive guards, with Brown serving as an off-guard currently and Udofia being a true point. Brown gets to the basket with ease and can elevate with most defenders while also showing he can knock down the occasional perimeter shot. Udofia had to rely more on his stellar quickness to make things work for him. He doesn’t have much issue getting into the lane, but once there, his smaller frame and lack of excellent hops makes it a little harder for him to finish with as much consistency as Brown does right now."

Good to see Zo getting some love but still no stats to report from either him or Sir Rich. Here are the official boxscores courtesy of BallerCircuit.com

Zo Selected to All-Southern Team

The accolades for Lorenzo Brown continue to roll in and this time he represented the Dirty South well. This morning it was announced that he was selected to the All-Southern Boys Basketball Team. Let's just say that Zo was in good company. Here is the rest of the players that he is surrounded by on the All-Southern Team:

Lorenzo Brown -Sr- Committed to NC State - 4 Stars
Fred Gulley -Sr- Committed to Oklahoma St - 3 Stars
DeMarcus Cousins -Sr- Committed to Kentucky - 5 Stars
Brandon Knight -Jr- Uncommitted - 5 Stars
Derrick Favors -Sr- Committed to Georgia Tech - 5 Stars
Jon Hood -Sr- Committed to Kentucky - 4 Stars
Eddie Ludwig -Sr- Committed to LSU - 3 Stars
Andre Stringer -Jr- Uncommitted - 2 Stars
Reggie Bullock -Jr- Committed to UNC - 5 Stars
DeAndre Hopkins -Jr- Committed to Clemson - 1 Star
John Jenkins -Sr- Committed to Vanderbilt - 4 Stars
Joseph Young -Jr- Uncommitted
Jaquon Parker -Sr- Uncommitted - 2 Stars

Also, Lorenzo and Richard Howell will be playing in tonight's Reebok All-Star Game tonight at American University. We will get you news of stats/results as soon as we get them.

Brown and Howell to Play in Reebok All-American Game

Lorenzo Brown and Richard Howell will be playing in the Reebok All-American game on April 18th. When it comes to ranking the notoriety of the high school basketball All-Star games, the Reebok game definitely ranks in the upper tier. In fact, the only games that would supersede it would be the McDonald's All-American game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Derby Festival Classic (Lorenzo Brown is also playing in the DFC). The rosters for the Reebok game are juicy. Take a look at the spread:

Team Create

Mfon Udfofia - Committed to Georgia Tech, 4 Stars
Maurice Creek - Committed to Indiana, 4 Stars
Lorenzo Brown - Committed to NC State, 4 Stars
Joe Burton - Committed to Oregon State, 3 Stars
Tim Frazier - Committed to Penn State, 3 Stars
Ari Stewart - Committed to Wake Forest, 4 Stars
Richard Howell - Committed to NC State, 4 Stars
Fred Gulley - Committed to Oklahoma State, 3 Stars
Isaiah Philmore - Committed to Towson, 3 Stars
Terrell Vinson - Uncommitted, 4 Stars
Isaiah Armwood - Committed to Villanova, 4 Stars

Team Finish

Mike Moser - Committed to UCLA, 4 Stars
Dexter Strickland - Committed to UNC, 5 Stars
Junior Cadougan - Committed to Marquette, 4 Stars
Naji Hibbert - Committed to Texas A&M, 4 Stars
Andrew Fitzgerald - Committed to Oklahoma, 4 Stars
Elijah Johnson - Committed to Kansas, 5 Stars
John Jenkins - Committed to Vanderbilt, 4 Stars
Rodney McGruder - Committed to Kansas State, 3 Stars
Dante Taylor - Committed to Pittsburgh, 5 Stars
Erik Murphy - Committed to Florida, 4 Stars
Thomas Robinson - Committed to Kansas, 5 Stars

We are pumped that the game will be played at American University's Bender Arena in Washington D.C., which isn't that far of a drive for a lot of Pack fans. The game will be played at 7pm, and it will be preceded by a Preview Game at 5:30pm. We are extremely proud of Lorenzo and Richard and we hope many of you can go out and support them. We'll bring you more details when we get them.

April 8, 2009.

VIDEO: Lorenzo Brown vs. Walton

Zo had a monster night on January 16th against the Walton Raiders. His 30 points paved the way to a 91-90 victory for the Centennial Knights. But it wasn't his scoring that won the game at the buzzer, rather it was an assist on the break as time expired.

A big thanks goes out to Ryan Harrow's mom for lending us the DVD to this game along with many others. Ryan's highlights from this game and the others will be forthcoming. Take the goodness in doses my friends.

April 6, 2009.

Pack Commits Shine in All-Star Games

Scott Wood, Richard Howell, and Lorenzo Brown all participated in All-Star games yesterday and as you can guess, all 3 made big impacts in their games.
Wood, who was selected to play in the North/South Indiana All-Star game, represented the North squad and represented them Well. Scott drained 5 of his 6 three pointers in the first half to give him 15 points. Although he did not score after the intermission, that 15 managed to hold as the Norths leading total.

“I felt really good in that first half,” Wood said. “Part of (the struggles) in the second half was that I haven’t been playing as much since the season ended, so I was a bit out of shape. I think it affected me after halftime.
“All-Star games are going to be like this where there are some runs and big plays,” Wood said. “We didn’t win but I had a lot of fun.”

600 miles away, two other NC State commits were showcasing their skills in another All-Star game. Lorenzo Brown and Richard Howell were both participants in the Charm City Challenge All-Star Game in Baltimore. Sir Rich was a monster and banged his way to 17 points and 8 boards and was a dominant inside presence. Right behind him was Lorenzo Brown who sliced and diced his way to 13 points and 5 assists.

It is very encouraging to see our boys performing so well on a big stage, but let's be honest, we're getting used to it with these guys. Whether it be regular season, playoffs, or all-star games, it just seems like these kids step up and stand out. We can't begin to say how excited we are for this 2009 recruiting class to land on campus June 27th.

The quotes in this article came from the Chronicle-Tribune.

April 6, 2009.