By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC — Class of 2026 four-star point guard Anthony Brown Jr. has been on a mission to start Peach Jam.
Brown, the 6-foot-1 guard out of Archbishop Carroll (DC), is a bucket getter, and he’s shown it through two games. On Tuesday, Brown exploded in the third quarter and finished with 37 points to beat 14-1 Team Takeover in the battle for the DMV. He followed that with a 27-point, six-assist outing in a win vs. Utah Prospects on Wednesday.
Anthony Brown Jr. All I can say is wow.
He just went nuclear in the third quarter to allow @teamdurant_AAU to come back from a double-digit deficit and beat @TTOBasketball.
Brown finished with 37 points and five assists, shot 5-of-10 from range. What a big time performance. pic.twitter.com/I3R8H1jvR0
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) July 16, 2025
“The rankings came out and 94 people were ahead of me,” Brown said. “I know there’s not 94 people better than me. So I’d say I have a chip on my shoulder and I feel like anybody who’s in front of me got to get it. That’s just my mentality walking into Peach Jam. One good Peach Jam could change your life forever. My parents always emphasized that, the last two weeks they emphasized that. So I’m just trying to take accountability and get the job done and maybe we’ll hold up the championship trophy on Sunday.”
Brown has always been a prolific scorer, but he said he’s really taken steps in his playmaking this summer. The point guard was in the top five during the EYBL regular season in assists and has continued to dish it well at Peach Jam.
“This year at Archbishop Carroll, I was putting up crazy numbers,” Brown said. “Like 30-40 point games, some 50s. So just coming here and showing I can be a natural true point guard. I can get off the ball, play off the ball and also get my other teammates involved. Not only am I able to score, but I can also get off the ball and make plays for others.”
When coaches return to Augusta on Thursday, Brown wants to show he’s a leader and a winner.
On the recruitment front, Brown has set official visits with Mississippi State and Oklahoma State. He’s also planning trips to Maryland, Memphis, Tennessee, UCF, Vanderbilt, VCU and Villanova. Alabama, Oregon, UCLA and USC have recently reached out.
Brown broke down some of the programs involved:
Maryland: “They’re rebuilding. I don’t think they had any returning players. They’re bringing in a new staff, and I think they’re doing a great job, especially with recruiting in the area. I think they offered some great guys, and they offered me, so that’s always tremendous. Playing in my hometown, playing at Maryland, as a little kid that’s something you dream about. Going to the games in College Park, the gym going crazy. Them pulling down the Maryland flag at the start of the fourth quarter, it means a lot. So just coach Buzz [Williams] reoffering me, it’s like a dream come true.”
Memphis: “Coach Nolan [Smith], coach [Penny] Hardaway reach out. They told me what they wanted, what they like and what they’ve seen. They also send me little clips just for me to get better. They told me they want me to come in and be myself. I feel like — that’s coach Penny Hardaway. A lot of people look up to him. A lot of people cherish his moves or do things he did in the past. If you type in Penny Hardaway, he might come up as one of the best players to ever touch a basketball in the NBA. So just him reaching out means a lot.”
Mississippi State: “Chris Jans. He contacted me and told me what he needed out of me and that he wanted me to be one of their guys and have the ball in my hands. Be kind of like a Josh Hubbard. And that means a lot. Josh Hubbard did tremendous things at Mississippi State, probably one of the best players to ever come out there. So just coach Jans telling me that means a lot.”
Oklahoma State: “Coach [James] Miller, he reached out. He just told me straight up he wants me to have the ball in my hands and be the person I am. He don’t want me to come to Oklahoma State and change anything about my game. He wants me to come there and be myself, and they’ll help me develop on and off the court.”
Vanderbilt: “I heard from coach Xavier [Joyner]. They offered me after the game I had. I’m grateful. He’s a DMV guy. A lot of people when they get big, they go away from the area they came up from. But just him still showing love to DMV kids means a lot.”
VCU: “Hometown. I wouldn’t say hometown but not too far. If my parents wanted to drive, it wouldn’t take that long. Just growing up as a kid, you’re going to play at VCU for the Dream Phenom Tournament, you’re always wondering like ‘Dang, one day I wish I could play on this court.’ Them offering me was a dream come true. I didn’t think they were going to offer and they did. So I’m grateful and proud of myself for it.”
Villanova: “Coach [David] Cox, coach [Kevin] Willard. We had a tremendous relationship when they were at Maryland. They moved off to Villanova, which is a pretty great school. Maybe, sometimes, every other year, they’re always in that top-25 poll. And you see what he did at Maryland. I think he can have a tremendous year at Villanova with the talent he has, the guard play he has. He’s brought in wings and bigs. I think they’re going to shine, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Villanova does this year.”
Brown said he hasn’t really given thought to narrowing it down yet.
“But it has came up in conversation with me and my parents,” he said. “I think I’m going to try to release like a top-10 or top-8 soon.”
His commitment date will likely come out with that top list, Brown said. What will be important factors in his decision?
“Just letting me be myself,” Brown said. “I want a coach that’s going to help me develop on and off the court but not changing too much into my game. Like I said, being myself for real for real. I think that’s all a kid wants. Go to a Power Five school and be their self and shine and show what they’re capable of on one of the biggest stages.”
Brown is ranked the No. 94 overall prospect in the 2026 class by ESPN. That ranking is sure to rise.
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