2015 Michigan Wolverines Recruiting Target Spotlight: 5-Star Small Forward Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown is a five-star recruit that is looking at some of the elite schools around the country and could make a huge impact if he commits to Michigan.

Jaylen Brown Recruiting Breakdown

Brown is the top overall small forward in the class of 2015 recruiting class, and he is a powerful athletic specimen. He can attack the rim at will, and he has a really nice looking jump-shot. Brown is currently deciding between eight schools; Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, North Carolina, and Michigan headline his elite list of schools. Brown would undeniably make a huge impact on every one of those teams.

Brown is sometimes compared to Arizona's Stanley Johnson because of their similar size, speed, and position. He has the typical build and athleticism to compete at the NBA level, but he still has some work to do, particularly with his decision-making. He is still needs time to mature, but sometimes he forces some very questionable shots, as seen in the Nike Hoop Summit. Brown is a terrific defender because of his strength, which is why he can be a shutdown defender in college.

One thing Brown really needs to work on is his three-point shooting. He will have plenty opportunities  to improve his shooting in college, but right now that is a big weakness of Brown. He has no major flaws, and his freakish athleticism makes up for many of his flaws, which is why he is such an elite prospect.

Here's Jaylen Brown's hoop mixtape.

Impact For Michigan?

Michigan is one of the eight teams on Brown's list, and he could really help Michigan's program in many ways. Brown could attract someone like Caris LeVert to stay for another year of college because if Brown came to Michigan, the Wolverines would be back in the national college basketball conversation. The Wolverines are also returning Derrick Walton, Zak Irvin, and Spike Albrecht, who were all key contributors to last season's team. The Wolverines still lack an interior presence, even if Brown chose Michigan, but that is something that coach Jon Beilein will try and fix.

Brown would make Michigan quickly forget about their underwhelming 2014-2015 season since he would add huge excitement to the program, and the Wolverines would be extremely dangerous if LeVert also opted to stay. Brown would be by the far the biggest recruit to attend Michigan since Zak Irvin, and the Wolverines are in need of a recruit that will add an immediate impact.

As of right now, the Wolverines are also rated as having the weakest incoming recruiting class in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports. The Wolverines have one commit so far for next season, and that is Moritz Wagner, who is a power forward, which is something the Wolverines need. The Wolverines have a lot of work to do in terms of recruiting for the next couple seasons, especially after LeVert and Irvin leave in the coming years.

Chances For Brown To Michigan

Coach Beilein has proven that he can recruit and coach a team to the top in the past; and Michigan fans are going to need to something to cheer for after last season. The chances that Brown chooses Michigan over other elite schools might not be that high, but he does have some strong reasons for why he could potentially end up in Ann Arbor.

Brown's mom is from Michigan, and that is also where Brown was raised, according to ZagsBlog.com.  Brown would put Michigan back on the map, but his best fit might be with Kansas because of the recent departure of Kelly Oubre Jr. Brown would take Oubre's spot at the small forward for Kansas, and he would get a bunch of exposure and playing time under Bill Self. It would be three years in a row for Self landing an elite small forward. Andrew Wiggins in 2013, Oubre in 2014, and maybe Brown in 2015. That would be an impressive three year stretch at the small forward position for Kansas.

Ultimately, Brown could go to any of the eight schools on his list. Kansas, UCLA, and Kentucky are probably the frontrunners, but do not count out Michigan because coach Beilein knows a thing or two about developing players for the NBA as well. Brown's name will be everywhere until he makes his decision, and he will make one team very happy wherever he chooses.