Miami High 7-foot junior center Zach Brown commits to UConn

Zach Brown, Miami High’s coveted 7-foot center, took his most recent trip to the University of Connecticut over the weekend.

Brown came back certain he wanted to play his college ball in Storrs.

On Wednesday morning, Brown announced he had committed to the Huskies following an unofficial visit to the school.

“I made the decision [Tuesday] night after I went to [UConn’s] game,” Brown said. “I’ve been up there a few times, and I love the campus. Everything was positive, and I love their academic program. I’m planning on studying business and accounting, so they have good opportunities for me in those areas.”

Brown (7-0, 260 pounds) said he chose the Huskies although he had been considering the University of Miami, which recently signed Miami Norland 6-10 forward Dewan Huell, among his top choices. Brown said he had also been considering his offers from N.C. State and Georgia.

In the end, Brown said he was most impressed with the atmosphere at UConn, a program that has won four national championships, including two over the past five seasons prior to this one (2011, ’14).

“The coaches are great, and the way they treated me felt like they had a real brotherhood up there,” Brown said. “I feel like I can come in to win a national championship if I go in and work hard.”

Brown, ranked the No. 25 overall prospect in the Class of 2017 by ESPN, also has offers from Florida, South Carolina, Kansas and UCLA, but said his mind is made up.

Brown is averaging 28 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks per game this season, leading Miami High to an 11-7 record so far and first place in District 14-8A in his first season with the Stingarees.

Brown has been a versatile threat ever since eighth grade at Archbishop Curley and stellar freshman and sophomore years at Miami Beach.

UConn is no stranger to landing prolific frontcourt stars from Miami-Dade County.

Huskies junior center Amida Brimah, a fellow 7-footer who played his high school basketball at Miami Archbishop Carroll, was the American Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. Brimah led the nation in total blocks (121). This season, Brimah has started only nine games because of a broken finger that has sidelined him since late December. He is averaging 7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 9:26 PM with the headline "Miami High 7-foot junior center Zach Brown commits to UConn."