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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: AJB to Portal
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Andrew Ruck
4/9/2025 2:49 PM
Just seen reporting on X so far that AJ Brown has entered the portal. Strange timing after 2 bigs & 0 guards landed in Athens. Definitely a gut punch.
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FearLeon
4/9/2025 2:52 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Just seen reporting on X so far that AJ Brown has entered the portal. Strange timing after 2 bigs & 0 guards landed in Athens. Definitely a gut punch.
In all likelihood if he stayed healthy, I'm sure he would have been gone after his sophomore season. Every time I want to love mid-major ball and Ohio, this stuff is another reminder as to why this staff needs to treat every player like they are on one-year contracts.

I will be curious if Brown can stay healthy next season. He was 0-3 in that department at Ohio.
Last Edited: 4/9/2025 2:53:25 PM by FearLeon
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
4/9/2025 2:57 PM
Not entirely surprising. Had a feeling we were going to see a guard/wing leave given the profile of people we were contacting. We also, you know, have 21 guards on the roster. Had hoped it would be somebody that was less of a contributor, but is what it is.

I feel like AJB has never quite been able to put it all together. If he ends up elsewhere, wish him the best. Otherwise, hope he's able to put it together here.
Last Edited: 4/9/2025 2:57:39 PM by Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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GoCats105
4/9/2025 2:59 PM
Kinda hard to summarize my feelings on this one.

Will he be missed? Yes.
Do we need his talent and experience? Yes.
Am I surprised by this? Not really
Is it going to kill the season that he's gone? Probably not, depending on what happens next.

There were some games he made me want to tear my hair out because it seemed like he wasn't maximizing his talent. But then he would make a shot nobody else on the roster could and you're like "OK there it is."
Last Edited: 4/9/2025 3:00:35 PM by GoCats105
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Cats5
4/9/2025 3:02 PM
I look at AJB like I do for Tee Higgins for the Bengals. Good when healthy but can't stay healthy.
Last Edited: 4/9/2025 3:02:32 PM by Cats5
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shabamon
4/9/2025 3:03 PM
I see one of four possibilities given his do not contact wishes

1) He joins his brother at Florida
2) He and his brother have plans to transfer to a specific school
3) He joins his high school and AAU teammate Ven-Allen Lubin at UNC
4) He is leveraging for more money to return to Ohio

Once he redshirted, I had a feeling he would transfer eventually. I was really hoping he could stay at least just one more year.

Fortunately, competent shooting guards might as well grow on trees.
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colobobcat66
4/9/2025 3:06 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Just seen reporting on X so far that AJ Brown has entered the portal. Strange timing after 2 bigs & 0 guards landed in Athens. Definitely a gut punch.
In all likelihood if he stayed healthy, I'm sure he would have been gone after his sophomore season. Every time I want to love mid-major ball and Ohio, this stuff is another reminder as to why this staff needs to treat every player like they are on one-year contracts.

I will be curious if Brown can stay healthy next season. He was 0-3 in that department at Ohio.
I just wonder how good he would have been without the injuries. If he gets healthy and stays healthy he could be one heck of a contributor someplace. It will be interesting to see how high he goes.
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spongeBOB CATpants
4/9/2025 3:36 PM
I'm actually pretty surprised at this announcement. I can't see AJB replicating his contributions here at a P5. Would hate to see him transfer and ride the pine.

I really have no idea how this will play out, I can see it going any which way including returning to Athens.
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FJC31
4/9/2025 3:47 PM
Damn. Figured the injury and big additions would have kept him out — and maybe thought he’d be granted an extra year with all the games missed over the years to enter next season.

I like Cat5’s comp to Tee Higgins (as a Bengals fan). Just sucks we’ll never see that full season of what could have been.

I’m guessing he ends up at Florida with his brother. This also makes a little more sense with todays new known interests in Tennessee Tech’s Daniel Egbuniwe and FGCU’s Blaise Vespe. Both seem like bigger wings.

https://x.com/theportalreport/status/1909986925282230312?...
https://x.com/tmarkwith14/status/1909995261096603987?s=46...

AJB will be tough to replace, Sean Moore is still uncommitted as well. After Monday’s haul, I have faith Boals and co will land a solid wing.

I’d rather still have AJB in the fold, but I can’t say I’m not equally intrigued by the new brand of basketball we’ll be rolling out next season.
Last Edited: 4/9/2025 3:48:46 PM by FJC31
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bobcatsquared
4/9/2025 3:49 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
I see one of four possibilities given his do not contact wishes

1) He joins his brother at Florida
2) He and his brother have plans to transfer to a specific school
3) He joins his high school and AAU teammate Ven-Allen Lubin at UNC
4) He is leveraging for more money to return to Ohio
I would be shocked if it ends up #1 or #3.
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Bobcat1998
4/9/2025 3:51 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Damn. Figured the injury and big additions would have kept him out — and maybe thought he’d be granted an extra year with all the games missed over the years to enter next season.

I like Cat5’s comp to Tee Higgins (as a Bengals fan). Just sucks we’ll never see that full season of what could have been.

I’m guessing he ends up at Florida with his brother. This also makes a little more sense with todays new known interests in Tennessee Tech’s Daniel Egbuniwe and FGCU’s Blaise Vespe. Both seem like bigger wings.

https://x.com/theportalreport/status/1909986925282230312?...
https://x.com/tmarkwith14/status/1909995261096603987?s=46...

AJB will be tough to replace, Sean Moore is still uncommitted as well. After Monday’s haul, I have faith Boals and co will land a solid wing.

I’d rather still have AJB in the fold, but I can’t say I’m not equally intrigued by the new brand of basketball we’ll be rolling out next season.
AJB has been a great teammate and an even better Bobcat. He has also been an enigma who has spent more time injured than not injured and when he has been healthy, he has lived off of the reputation of a handful of games. His outside shot and quick release are great but he never posted up, never rebounded and rarely dished off. If he returned, I would be happy but if he leaves, I wish him well, will root for him and never think twice about it. If he goes to a Power 5 he will get eaten alive unless he is specifically told to go to a corner and wait for penetration for a 3-point shot.
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MonroeClassmate
4/9/2025 4:28 PM
ABJ reminded me of a "stick figure" kind of herky jerky and lacking big hops. Seemed to shoot layups like a small point guard instead of being up at the rim. He does have good basketbball smarts and could definitely bomb from NBA land. A season full of freshman game vs Ball St in Cleveland would have had him as MacPLOY if his body would have cooperated.

People overpay all the time so I will likely be proven wrong but ABJ with two years remaining and not a full season to show will not be playing for any marquee team next season.

I have faith that the two freshman wings and Elliott will have us not ruing this day.
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Ohio69
4/9/2025 4:53 PM
Man. What a bummer. He's a huge difference maker in the MAC. Maybe a rotation guy in bigger conferences.... (Not a Florida or UNC guy to me though.)

I assume its time to go make some money. That's the NCAA now. Show me the money....

Best of luck to the young man.
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colobobcat66
4/9/2025 5:27 PM
Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
Man. What a bummer. He's a huge difference maker in the MAC. Maybe a rotation guy in bigger conferences.... (Not a Florida or UNC guy to me though.)

I assume its time to go make some money. That's the NCAA now. Show me the money....

Best of luck to the young man.
If it was about the money, he wouldn’t have ended up at Ohio In the first place. I just know why so many people think it’s always about the money.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
4/9/2025 5:31 PM
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
If it was about the money, he wouldn’t have ended up at Ohio In the first place. I just know why so many people think it’s always about the money.
When we lose guys, it's about bad things. When we sign guys, it's about good things. Keep up.
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roger
4/9/2025 5:44 PM
I’m confused. Just because he played as a wing, he was an undersized wing. Don’t we have a lot of wings that are taller already? If that is the case, why should we try to replace him with a wing? Just trying to understand. Thanks!
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Jeff McKinney
4/9/2025 5:58 PM
I like AJ as a person, student and player. I will miss him a lot. But his position is the easiest to replace. We will be ok at the wing.
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FJC31
4/9/2025 6:51 PM
Gator SZN X handle already posting about AJB. Seem to think he’s a lock.

https://x.com/gatorsszn/status/1910057531763806263?s=46&t...
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
4/9/2025 7:34 PM
FJC31 wrote:expand_more
Gator SZN X handle already posting about AJB. Seem to think he’s a lock.

https://x.com/gatorsszn/status/1910057531763806263?s=46&t...
Wild. I don't really see it, but more power to him if he can head to the national champion.
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brucecuth
4/9/2025 7:42 PM
He had a "do-not-contact" entry into the portal, which means he probably knows where he's going. We'll find out soon enough.
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Bobcat Tattoo
4/9/2025 7:43 PM
Above posts pretty much sum up how I feel about the issue. Sucks to lose him, but he's not irreplaceable. From the outside he seemed like a really positive presence around the team, always smiling and hyping up his teammates even when (frequently) injured. Easy guy to root for, and I will be doing so wherever he ends up--so long as it isn't another MAC program.

As for Florida, if he can (a) move 12 hours closer to home, (b) play with his little brother, (c) contend for national championships, and (d) make a much larger paycheck (presumably), I can't imagine how he wouldn't take that. Best of luck AJB!!
Last Edited: 4/9/2025 7:46:45 PM by Bobcat Tattoo
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RSBobcat
4/9/2025 7:49 PM
Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
I like AJ as a person, student and player. I will miss him a lot. But his position is the easiest to replace. We will be ok at the wing.
Agree
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M.D.W.S.T
4/9/2025 7:51 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Not entirely surprising. Had a feeling we were going to see a guard/wing leave given the profile of people we were contacting. We also, you know, have 21 guards on the roster. Had hoped it would be somebody that was less of a contributor, but is what it is.

I feel like AJB has never quite been able to put it all together. If he ends up elsewhere, wish him the best. Otherwise, hope he's able to put it together here.
Been saying I thought he was a flight risk since his freshman year. Thought he’d go to Florida years ago. Injuries kept him from excelling here.

Will be greatly missed, as he would be our #1 scoring option and that will be tough to replace the potential - but we have several guards coming. I think Elliott is ready to step-up. I’m not losing as much sleep about it as I would’ve a few years ago. He just can’t get/stay healthy. Truly unfortunate. If he stays healthy he could still be a beast elsewhere.
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Andrew Ruck
4/10/2025 9:15 AM
brucecuth wrote:expand_more
He had a "do-not-contact" entry into the portal, which means he probably knows where he's going. We'll find out soon enough.
That is interesting.

My main pain in losing AJB is it really felt like he was turning into a sharpshooter. With Sheldon losing his outside shot, we don't really have that on the roster. If we bring a transfer in I hope he is a 40% type 3 point shooter. But with so many freshmen/sophomore options many it is best to create some in-house open competition for it.
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spongeBOB CATpants
4/10/2025 9:19 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
Not entirely surprising. Had a feeling we were going to see a guard/wing leave given the profile of people we were contacting. We also, you know, have 21 guards on the roster. Had hoped it would be somebody that was less of a contributor, but is what it is.

I feel like AJB has never quite been able to put it all together. If he ends up elsewhere, wish him the best. Otherwise, hope he's able to put it together here.
Been saying I thought he was a flight risk since his freshman year. Thought he’d go to Florida years ago. Injuries kept him from excelling here.

Will be greatly missed, as he would be our #1 scoring option and that will be tough to replace the potential - but we have several guards coming. I think Elliott is ready to step-up. I’m not losing as much sleep about it as I would’ve a few years ago. He just can’t get/stay healthy. Truly unfortunate. If he stays healthy he could still be a beast elsewhere.
I was in the same boat as you fearing he was going to bounce after year 1 or 2 but over time, I feel like his stock dropped and that he ultimately would stay put. His jump shot developed but he was frustrating to watch at times because he wouldn't even attempt to rebound or do much of anything else but stand in the corner. Maybe that was precautionary in order to stay healthy but I guess we'll never know.

You could tell he bled green but I just don't see him excelling at Florida and would end up being a 8-9 guy off the bench there.
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