J'Covan Brown

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = J'Covan Brown

| image = J'Covan Brown Texas Longhorns vs Navy Midshipmen November 2010 (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Brown with the Texas Longhorns in November 2010

| position = Point guard / shooting guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 202

| league =

| team = Free Agent

| number =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1990|02|14}}

| birth_place = Port Arthur, Texas

| nationality = American

| high_school = Memorial (Port Arthur, Texas)

| college = Texas (2009–2012)

| draft_year = 2012

| career_start = 2012

| years1 = 2012

| team1 = Rethymno Aegean

| years2 = 2013–2014

| team2 = KAOD

| years3 = 2014

| team3 = Cañeros de La Romana

| years4 = 2014–2015

| team4 = Astana

| years5 = 2015–2016

| team5 = Türk Telekom

| years6 = 2016

| team6 = AEK Athens

| years7 = 2016–2017

| team7 = Pınar Karşıyaka

| years8 = 2017–2018

| team8 = Hapoel Gilboa Galil

| years9 = 2018–2021

| team9 = Hapoel Jerusalem

| years10 = 2021–2024

| team10 = Hapoel Tel Aviv

| highlights =

All-EuroCup Second Team (2023)
2× Israeli State Cup winner (2019, 2020)
Israeli State Cup Final MVP (2020)
Israeli League Cup winner (2019)
Kazakhstan League champion (2015)
First-team All-Big 12 (2012)

}}

J'Covan Marquis Brown (born February 14, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who last played for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for the University of Texas before playing professionally in Greece, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Israel. Standing at {{height|ft=6|in=2}}, he plays at the point guard and shooting guard positions.

High school career

Brown attended Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas, where he averaged 29.9 points per game while playing in 11 contests during his senior season. Brown led Memorial to a 29–6 record while averaging 27 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals per game and earned all-state, all-region and first-team All-District 21-5A accolades in his junior season.{{cite news|title=J'Covan Brown – Texas Athletics|url=https://texassports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2364|accessdate=September 30, 2018|work=TexasSports.com}}

College career

Image:J'Covan Brown.jpg in January 2012]]

Brown played college basketball for The University of Texas's Longhorns from 2009 to 2012. In his senior year at Texas, Brown averaged 20.1 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, almost two times the amount of the team's second-leading scorer, Sheldon McClellan and was able to take his team to the Big 12 Tournament Semifinals in 2012.

On March 5, 2012, Brown earned a spot in the All-Big 12 First team.{{cite news|title=J'Covan Brown Named First Team All-Big 12 Basketball|url=https://www.burntorangenation.com/2012/3/5/2847397/jcovan-brown-named-first-team-all-big-12-basketball|access-date=September 30, 2018|work=burntorangenation.com|date=March 5, 2012}}

On April 2, 2012, Brown declared for the 2012 NBA draft after completing his junior year at Texas.{{cite news|url=https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/hs/article/PA-native-J-Covan-Brown-declares-for-NBA-draft-3452744.php|title=PA native J'Covan Brown declares for NBA draft|date=April 2, 2012|work=beaumontenterprise.com|access-date=September 30, 2018|archive-date=March 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301012734/https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/hs/article/PA-native-J-Covan-Brown-declares-for-NBA-draft-3452744.php|url-status=dead}}

Professional career

=Rethymno Aegean (2012)=

On August 28, 2012, Brown started his professional career with the Greek team Rethymno Aegean, signing a one-year deal. However, on December 1, 2012, he parted ways with the team after appearing in six games, averaging 9.3 points per game.{{cite news|title=J'Covan Brown – Player Profile|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/JCovan-Brown/Summary/4280|accessdate=September 30, 2018|work=RealGM.com}}

=KAOD and Caneros de La Romana (2013–2014)=

In July 2013, Brown joined the New York Knicks for the 2013 NBA Summer League.{{cite news|title=Here is the 2013 Knicks Las Vegas Summer League roster|url=https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2013/7/8/4504030/here-is-the-2013-knicks-las-vegas-summer-league-roster|access-date=September 29, 2018|work=postingandtoasting.com|date=July 8, 2013}}

On November 5, 2013, Brown returned to Greece for a second stint, signing with KAOD for the rest of the season.{{cite web | title=J'Covan Brown signed by KAOD |url=http://www.court-side.com/news/blog/jcovan-brown-signed-kaod/ |work=Court-Side.com |date=November 5, 2013|accessdate=February 25, 2015}} Brown averaged 17.2 points per game and finished as the Greek League second best scorer.

On May 17, 2014, Brown signed with the Dominican team Caneros de La Romana for the 2014 LNB Season.

=Astana (2014–2015)=

On August 8, 2014, Brown signed a one-year deal with the Kazakh team BC Astana.{{cite web|title=J'Covan Brown heads to Astana|url=https://www.court-side.com/news/jcovan-brown-heads-astana/|work=Court-Side.com|date=August 8, 2014|accessdate=September 30, 2018}} On November 11, 2014, Brown recorded a season-high 34 points, shooting 12-of-15 from the field, along with seven rebounds and three assists in a 106–102 win over Tofaş. He was subsequently named EuroChallenge Week 2 Top Performer.{{cite web|title=Brown Is Week 2 Top Performer|url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/eurochallenge/compID_BYg5Rb55Jw-G5I3MZ6JB01.season_2015.roundID_10369.coid_hYlnPD-AIUshCSYndKuKV1.articleMode_on.html|work=fibaeurope.com|date=November 13, 2014|accessdate=September 30, 2018}}

Brown finished the season as the EuroChallenge third leading scorer with 17.5 points per game. He helped Astana to win the 2015 Kazakhstan Basketball Championship, as well as reaching the 2015 VTB League Playoffs as the eighth seed, where they eventually were eliminated by CSKA Moscow.

=Türk Telekom (2015–2016)=

On June 4, 2015, Brown signed with the Turkish team Türk Telekom for the 2015–16 season.{{cite news|title=Turk Telekom Ankara lands Michael Jenkins and J'Covan Brown|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/turkey/162963/turk-telekom-ankara-lands-michael-jenkins-and-j-covan-brown.html|accessdate=June 5, 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=June 4, 2015}} On December 6, 2015, Brown recorded a career-high 38 points, shooting 11-of-14 from the field, along with three assists in a 93–96 loss to Fenerbahçe.{{cite news|title=Turk Telekom 93 at Fenerbahce Ulker 96|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/international/boxscore/2015-12-06/Turk-Telekom-at-Fenerbahce-Ulker/220286|access-date=September 29, 2018|work=RealGM.com|date=December 6, 2015}}

=AEK Athens (2016)=

Image:J'Covan Brown in 2016.jpg in February 2016]]

On January 19, 2016, Brown parted ways with Türk Telekom and signed with the Greek team AEK Athens for the rest of the season, with a prospect of renewal for another year.{{cite news|title=AEK Athens B.C. signs J'Covan Brown|url=http://www.aekbc.gr/en/articles-690/aek-athens-b-c-signs-brown.htm|accessdate=January 27, 2016|work=Aekbc.gr|date=January 27, 2016|archive-date=January 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124035958/http://www.aekbc.gr/en/articles-690/aek-athens-b-c-signs-brown.htm|url-status=dead}} Brown helped AEK to reach the 2016 Greek League Semifinals, where they eventually were eliminated by Olympiacos.

=Pınar Karşıyaka (2016–2017)=

On July 14, 2016, Brown returned to Turkey for a second stint, signing a one-year deal with Pınar Karşıyaka.{{cite news|title=J'Covan Brown added by Karsiyaka|url=http://www.court-side.com/news/jcovan-brown-added-by-karsiyaka/|accessdate=July 31, 2016|work=court-side.com|date=July 14, 2016}} On December 13, 2016, Brown recorded a season-high 36 points, shooting 13-of-20 from the field, along with four assists and two steals in a 99–59 blowout win over Reyer Venezia.{{cite news|url=http://www.championsleague.basketball/16-17/news/pinar-karsiyaka-end-venezia-streak-with-emphasis-behind-brown-s-36|title=Pinar Karsiyaka end Venezia streak with emphasis behind Brown's 36|work=championsleague.basketball|date=December 13, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2018}}

Brown helped Karşıyaka to reach the 2017 Champions League Quarterfinals, where they eventually lost to Reyer Venezia.

=Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2017–2018)=

On September 12, 2017, Brown signed with the Israeli team Hapoel Gilboa Galil for the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=J'Covan Brown inks with Hapoel Gilboa Galil|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/246638/j-covan-brown-inks-with-hapoel-gilboa-galil.html|accessdate=September 12, 2017|work=Sportando.com|date=September 12, 2017}} On November 13, 2017, Brown recorded 28 points, shooting 10-of-15 from the field, along with 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in an 88–86 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv. He was subsequently named Israeli League Round 6 MVP.{{cite news|title=מצטיין המחזור השישי: ג'ייקובן בראון|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=16226|access-date=September 29, 2018|work=basket.co.il|date=November 14, 2017|language=he}} On April 9, 2018, Brown recorded a double-double of 32 points and 11 assists, shooting 6-of-6 from three-point range in a 94–91 win over Hapoel Holon. He was subsequently named Israeli League Round 22 MVP.{{cite news|title=מצטיין המחזור ה-23: ג'ייקובן בראון|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=17777|access-date=September 29, 2018|work=basket.co.il|date=April 11, 2018|language=he}}

Brown helped Gilboa Galil to reach the 2018 Israeli League Playoffs, where they eventually lost to Hapoel Jerusalem. Brown finished the season as the League third assists leader (5.9 per game) and also averaged 17 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, shooting a career-high of 42.5 percent from 3-point range.

=Hapoel Jerusalem (2018–2021)=

On June 18, 2018, Brown signed a two-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem.{{cite news|title=רכש ראשון: ג'ייקובן בראון עולה לבירה|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=19087|accessdate=June 18, 2018|work=basket.co.il|date=June 18, 2018|language=he}} On February 2, 2019, Brown recorded a season-high 25 points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, along with six rebounds and assists for 33 PIR in a 104–94 win over Maccabi Ashdod.{{cite news|title=Winner League, Game 17: Hapoel J-M Vs Ashdod|url=http://basket.co.il/game-zone.asp?GameId=23885&lang=en|date=February 2, 2019|access-date=February 2, 2019|work=basket.co.il}} On February 14, 2019, Brown helped Jerusalem to win the 2019 Israeli State Cup after an 82–67 win over Maccabi Rishon LeZion, scoring 19 points off the bench.{{cite news|title=Hapoel Jerusalem captures State Cup title|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Hapoel-Jerusalem-captures-State-Cup-title-580744|accessdate=March 11, 2019|work=JPost.com|date=February 15, 2019}} On March 4, 2019, Brown was named Israeli League Player of the Month after averaging 20.0 points and 4.7 assists per game in three games played in February.{{cite news|title=שחקן חודש פברואר: ג'ייקובן בראון|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=20916|accessdate=March 4, 2019|work=basket.co.il|date=March 4, 2019|language=he}}

On February 13, 2020, Brown recorded 26 points, while shooting 10-of-21 from the field, along with six rebounds and five assists, leading Jerusalem to its sixth Israeli State Cup title after a 92–89 win over Ironi Nahariya. He was subsequently named the Final MVP.{{cite news|title=הגביע נשאר אדום: י-ם גברה על נהריה בגמר|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=23164|access-date=February 13, 2020|work=basket.co.il|date=February 13, 2020|language=he}} Brown averaged 14.8 points and 5.3 assists per game during the 2019–20 season. On August 13, 2020, he re-signed with Hapoel Jerusalem.{{cite web |title=Hapoel Jerusalem re-sign J'Covan Brown |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/hapoel-jerusalem-re-sign-jcovan-brown/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=August 13, 2020 |date=August 13, 2020}}

=Hapoel Tel Aviv (2021–2024)=

In summer 2021, he has signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League.

Personal life

Brown is the son of Johnny Ray and Angela Brown. His cousin, B. J. Tyler, is a former NBA player who also played for the University of Texas. Tyler earned third-team All-America honors by The Associated Press as a senior in 1993–94 and was the No. 20 overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.