You hear a lot about five-stars Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, but don’t forget big man James Brown.

Brown is one of three members of the UNC basketball program’s 2024 recruiting class. While he may not be as highly ranked as his fellow classmates, make no mistake: Brown is a player that the Tar Heels have big hopes for over the next few seasons.

While the team’s frontcourt has plenty of question marks heading into the new season, it’s very possible that Brown can work his way into the mix. Of course, all freshmen go through some ups and downs as they transition to the college game, but even his teammates are raving about his effort and hustle daily.

The question surrounding Brown is: is he ready to make an immediate impact or will the UNC basketball program take their time easing him into the mix?

As we begin our UNC basketball player previews for the 2024-2025 season, let’s get to know James Brown a bit.

Class: Freshman
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-9
Hometown: Aurora, Illinois
High School: Link Academy
Ranking: No. 89 in the Class of 2024 (247Sports Composite)

Unlike guards, the UNC basketball program has tended to ease big men into action.

I expect Brown to earn opportunities to play, especially in non-conference action, as the goal with him should be to get him to a position where he feels comfortable and can contribute at a consistent level. He’s the player I consider to be the long-term project for this program, as I really do believe that he will be a heavy contributor by the time his time in Chapel Hill comes to a close.

For now, Hubert Davis and his staff will work to groom Brown to be the next great big man on campus. He has a great mentor in Sean May sitting on the team’s bench.

I know these predictions are typically based for the upcoming season, but I’m going to give you a short term and a long term prediction:

Short term: Brown will play more than most people think. He’ll show an ability to run the floor, rebound on both sides while giving all he has during his time on the court. He may have some hiccups early on, but this is a guy that I could see making an impact sooner than we all expect.

Long term: By the time his UNC basketball career comes to a close, he’ll be an All-ACC caliber player.