Taran Brown was recruited to UCSB as the Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American.
Taran Brown, a two-year starter for the UC Santa Barbara men’s basketball program, will leave the school and transfer at the end of the spring quarter in June, head coach Bob Williams announced Tuesday.
“Myself and our entire coaching staff would like extend our thanks to Taran for the effort he has given during his three years in the program,” Williams said. “We wish him all the best in his future as he continues his education and basketball career.”
The 6-foot-8 Brown was a two-year starter for the Gauchos after redshirting his first year. As a freshman in 2012-13, he was third on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game and second in rebounds at 5.3 per game and blocked shots with 31. That season, he set a UCSB freshman record with 58 three-point baskets and his 343 points were the second most ever by a freshman.
As a sophomore in 2013-14, Brown started 22 of 30 games. He averaged 7.4 points and 4.6 boards per while making 36 three-point baskets. In a Nov. 21 game at Colorado, he scored a career-high 23 points while making a career-high seven three-point baskets.
In addition to Brown, the only players the Gauchos will lose from a team that won 21 games in 2013-14, will be seniors Kyle Boswell and Shawn Moore. UCSB will return, among others, Big West Player of the Year and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American Alan Williams, Honorable Mention All-Big West swingman Michael Bryson, point guards Zalmico Harmon and Eric Childress, and forwards Mitch Brewe and Sam Beeler.
The Gauchos will also add a host of talented players to the mix. Swingman John Green, who missed the last six weeks of the season with a broken bone in his wrist, is expected to return, as is T.J. Taylor, a two-year starter at the point who missed last season after hip surgery. Canadian Alex Hart, a 6-foot-10 long-distance shooter, will be a redshirt freshman in 2014-15. Two new faces to the program next will be freshmen Gabe Vincent (6-foot-3/Stockton, Calif./St. Mary’s HS) and Justin Burks (6-foot-6/Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View HS).
