Michigan State Recruiting: 4-star SF Gabe Brown a must-have 2018 target

Michigan State recruiting should be doing all it can to reel in four-star small forward Gabe Brown in the 2018 class.

A couple of weeks ago, Gabe Brown was an under-appreciated recruit with no recruiting rankings to speak of. Now, the top Michigan State recruiting target from Belleville, Mich., is gaining steam and being looked at by schools all over the country.

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Seeing him without any stars to his name was a real head-scratcher, but now that he’s garnering attention, he can expect his recruitment to heat up. Although, like many underrated prospects, stars mean nothing to him and he’s just happy to be looked at.

“My recruitment has been a blessing,” Brown said. “I really wanna take the time out and say shoutout to that man in the sky. My dad, he gave me this talent and another shoutout to my brother he pushes me and make sure I live in the gym and in the classroom and my mom for keeping my spirits high through this tough time. And Coach (Mike) Faletti for helping me with my recruiting process and keeping me on track and the rest of my family for being there for me. I don’t let the rankings get to me, I just let my game talk. I don’t care about the rankings a lot of people say I’m a 4-5 star, some say I’m a two (star). I don’t care, (I’m going to) keep working to give my dad what he always wanted and give my brother and mom what they want.”

While the stars don’t matter, especially since they’re a new thing to him, he was just bumped up to a four-star rating on 247Sports and the site lists him as the No. 124 prospect in the class and fifth-best recruit from Michigan.

After watching his highlights, it’s obvious that he offers a lot. While Brown could afford to add some muscle, which he openly admits, he does compare his game to that of Kevin Durant. He can shoot, run the floor and drive the lane with relative ease.

“I’m a 2-4 that can shoot, defend, dribble, and pass and score,” Brown said. “I need to work on every part of my game, especially getting stronger. I look up to my brother and my dad and LeBron James. I compare myself to KD but I take bits and pieces from everyone game and try to add it to mine.”

That type of do-it-all attitude and constantly wanting to get better is why Tom Izzo fell in love with him as a recruit. While he’s yet to receive an offer from Michigan State, one might be on the horizon.

“(Izzo) says just keep working. He says my game fits their school’s because I can shoot, run in transition, jump, really do all a stretch 3 or 4 can do.”

It’s tough to find a more humble kid than Brown, but when he hits the court, he’s a killer. His 3-point shot is spot-on and his ball-handling is impressive for a 6-foot-6, 180-pound small forward. He is still growing into his body, but when he adds more muscle, he will be able to back down defenders and put on a clinic from down low as well.

Brown will visit Michigan on Monday — another school prominent on his radar — and take trips to Missouri, Oakland and Duquesne before stopping in East Lansing on June 23. He has nothing but good things to say about MSU.

“I love the environment and the coaches and players,” Brown said. “It’s a great place. Izzo is one the greatest coaches ever and for him to be impressed by my game is a blessing. That’s just something amazing.”

The interest level is high for all the schools that are recruiting him, according to Brown, but he wouldn’t name favorites at this point.

If Michigan State wants to perfectly complement Foster Loyer and Thomas Kithier in the 2018 class, the Spartans may want to add Brown. Three elite in-state targets on one team? Scary.

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