The Boston Celtics added a Georgia product on Thursday, drafting California forward Jaylen Brown with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.

Brown arrived at California from Wheeler High School in Marietta and made the most of his lone season with the Golden Bears, averaging 14.6 points per game and 5.4 rebounds in 34 games. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Brown was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year as well as a member of the First Team All-Pac-12 squad.

Brown’s time in Berkeley, California, followed a successful high school career. He was a consensus first-team All-American at Wheeler and considered to be a top-five national high school prospect. He was named the 2015 Gatorade Georgia Boys’ Player of the Year, USA Today’s All-USA, Georgia Player of the Year and Georgia’s Mr. Basketball in his senior season, which culminated in a state title for Wheeler.

“You’ve got a guy who’s 6-7, 225 pounds that’s good with the ball end to end,” Cal head coach Cuonzo Martin said. “He has a lot of tools and a lot of athletic skill. He’s a guy that can pretty much do anything on the floor. Now it’s just about continuing to get better.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia State Panthers and Georgia Bulldogs players are seen battling at half-court during the first half of an exhibition opener game at the Georgia State Convocation Center, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Atlanta. 
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

Credit: Phil Skinner / Staff