Top Texas target Greg Brown set to announce decision

On Friday afternoon, the recruitment of Vandegrift star Greg Brown will finally come to a close.

Regarded as the nation’s top-ranked power forward prospect, per the 247Sports Composite, Brown has long been the Texas Longhorns’ top option this cycle, with Shaka Smart and his staff’s recruiting efforts extending half of a decade. Now, only a matter of hours remain before we learn if those efforts net Texas arguably the program’s most dynamic talent since the brief, but often jaw-dropping Kevin Durant era.

Prior to the recent couple weeks, it certainly seemed as if the hometown Longhorns were in a fairly ideal position to land the nation’s No. 9 overall prospect. After long being considered the favorites to sign Brown, Texas faced increased competition from the likes of Memphis, Auburn, Michigan, and Kentucky, thanks in large part to the lack of certainty that surrounded Smart’s future in Austin for what almost certainly be Brown’s only season on the Forty Acres.

In fact, Brown even vocalized that fact that if Smart was in Austin, he likely would be, too.

“If Shaka keeps his job, I’ll most likely be going there,” Brown told 247Sports in early March.

Of course, only weeks later, Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte noted his decision to retain Smart for at least another season, and thus, the industry consensus was that Brown would soon don burnt orange.

It’s still quite possible that that comes to fruition, but another realistic option — the G League — has emerged in recent weeks, reportedly giving Brown 300,000 reasons to consider a professional path.

Of course, the current COVID-19 pandemic could also play a fairly significant factor in Brown’s decision, considering that the immediate future of college sports remains entirely unclear and it’s within the realm of possibility that should Brown sign with a college program, he might never suit up.

So considering the push from the G League, which has already landed elite high school talents in Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd, confidence that Brown becomes a Longhorn on Friday afternoon certainly shouldn’t be as high as it was entering the month. But if Brown does take his chances with the college route, there’s every reason to believe the choice will be Texas.

We’ll know for certain soon enough, as Brown is set to announce his decision on his YouTube channel, HedgeHogFamTV, at 2 p.m. CT. You can follow Brown on Instagram @Greg.Brown.03.