Miami Lands Top-30 Players Huell and Brown
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team has landed a pair of top-30 players in Dewan Huell and Bruce Brown, head coach Jim Larrañaga announced Wednesday.
“We are so excited about continuing to build our program with quality young men, including Dewan Huell, Bruce Brown and Rodney Miller, Jr.,” Larrañaga said. “We believe they have great physical talent but also the right mindset to be successful at The U.”
The 2016 class of Miller, Huell and Brown is now being named a top-10 recruiting class in the country, with 247Sports ranking the class No. 7, Scout at No. 8, ESPN at No. 9 and Rivals at No. 10
The 2016 class rankings top Miami’s best mark from 2005, when the Canes signed four four-star recruits – Jimmy Graham, Brian Asbury, Adrian Thomas and Denis Clemente – in a class that was ranked No. 12 in the nation by Scout.
In 2009, Miami’s signing class was nationally ranked No. 19 by Scout and No. 24 by ESPN. That Hurricanes’ heralded 2009 class was comprised of ESPNU 100 picks Durand Scott, Garrius Adams and Donnavan Kirk, in addition to May signee Antoine Allen.
Since 2002, Miami has signed 16 Scout.com top 100 players, including three five-star, top-25 players in DeQuan Jones (22, 2008), Huell (25) and Durand Scott (25, 2009). Since Larrañaga’s arrival, his staff has signed five top-100 players in Huell (25), Brown (44), Ja’Quan Newton (52, 2014), Rodney Miller (90) and James Palmer (98, 2014).
Huell is the most lauded signee for Miami since Scott in 2009, Jones in 2008, No. 32 Guillermo Diaz in 2003 and McDonald’s All-American Darius Rice in 2000.
“Dewan Huell is a winner,” Larrañaga said. “He has been extremely well-coached by Lawton Williams. He is a double-double man, a rim protector and a great athlete in the open court. Dewan is an outstanding defender who can guard any position due to his lateral quickness, plus he is a threat from inside the paint to outside the 3-point line.”
Huell, at 6-10 and 218 pounds, is a five-star, top-25 power forward from Miami Norland High School. Nationally, he is ranked the No. 21 player by ESPN, No. 23 by Rivals and No. 25 by Scout. ESPN and Scout rank him fifth at his position, and Scout says he’s the top player in the state of Florida, while ESPN and Rivals have him second in the state.
Huell has played in numerous national camps, including the Nike Elite 100, LeBron James Skills Academy, adidas Nations, Elite 24 all-star game, UA All-America Camp and the NBPA Top 100 Camp.
At Miami Norland, Huell has led the Vikings to three state championships, and the Miami Herald’s Player of the Year posted 19.2 points and 9.1 rebounds as a junior.
A fluid player who finishes around the rim, Huell runs the floor and can beat his man off the dribble. He can hit the open 15-footer, as well as play with his back to the basket, scoring with a jump hook. Huell has the ability to elevate quickly, giving him the ability to block shots and grab offensive rebounds.
Huell, who played AAU ball for Team Breakdown, chose to attend Miami over Florida State, South Carolina and Mississippi State.
Brown, from Wakefield, Mass., is a four-star shooting guard at Vermont Academy in Saxton’s River, Vt.
“The first thing you notice about Bruce Brown is that he plays so hard. We felt was one of the hardest playing guys in this class,” Larrañaga said. “He is a relentless competitor who can play multiple positions, and also possess the ability to score and pass the ball at a high level. He has excelled in both the Nike EYBL league and in the New England Prep School league.”
At 6-4 and 205 pounds, Brown is ranked No. 30 by ESPN, No. 44 per Scout and No. 49 by Rivals. He has competed nationally at Nike Basketball Academy, the NBPA Top 100 and Nike Elite 100, and was a second team all-EYBL performer playing for Boston Amateur Basketball Club. With BABC at the Peach Jam this summer, he averaged 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
A combo guard with a 6-9 wingspan, Brown is one of the best defenders in the country and plays with tremendous energy. He is physical, has the ability to score off the dribble and can play multiple backcourt positions.
Brown chose to attend Miami over Indiana, Xavier, UMass and Purdue.
“Our fans are going to fall in love with these guys and are going to be thrilled with the excitement in the BUC,” Larrañaga said.
