Prospect Update: Even Brauns (2020)
T.J. Rushing
It's a season of change for one of the state's best big-men Even Brauns.
The lengthy 6-foot-9 power forward has transferred from Iowa City Regina to Iowa City West, and will play with Under Armour squad Wisconsin Playground Warriors rather than Iowa Barnstormers this spring and summer.
Iowa's 2nd-ranked 2019, Brauns says he made the switch to West for family reasons, and also to play alongside top-ranked 2019 Patrick McCaffery for one of the more storied programs in Iowa. He enrolled in Iowa City West last month.
“It was pretty sudden. My parents didn't know about the transfer rules and everything, so I had to get over to West that week that I announced it,” said Brauns.
“West High is West High, and they're known to be winners, and they've developed so many college players. So, just knowing that and knowing that I've known Patrick for awhile. And I just know that going there I'm going to get a college experience before I go off to college.”
Before he suits up for West, though, Brauns will play with one of the Midwest's best programs, Wisconsin Playground Warriors for his 16U season.
He had been an Iowa Barnstormers guy the past several years.
“Obviously, with what happened with everything, it just felt like this was going to be a really good opportunity for me. I wouldn't have ever left if everything with Greg (Stephen) had never happened. And since that went down, it opened my eyes to other opportunities out there,” said Brauns.
A few other teams reached out to Brauns, and he weighed his options.
“I just felt like Playground was good opportunity, they lost some guys so I'll be able to come in and play. And they play in Under Armour,” he said. “I thought it was a good time for me to make a make a change.”
Even Brauns is ranked by Prep Hoops as a top 10 prospect in his class. To see the full ranking of Iowa's 2020 class, click here.As for his recruitment, it's been a bit stagnant since he received a Drake offer over winter break. Drake was his second offer, after Northern Iowa. He said last week (Thursday night), that he wasn't sure right now where he stands with the Bulldogs' offer. Ali Farokhmanesh, who had been recruiting Brauns, left with former Drake coach Niko Nedved to Colorado State. “Obviously, since they lost their coach and all that, I'm not exactly sure where I stand with that scholarship offer. Ali was the guy recruiting me, and he's gone too. So, we'll see how that goes,” said Brauns. This offseason, Brauns should see another spike in his recruitment. And he's looking to be more proactive with his own recruitment process. “Goals of mine are to go off to more college camps, just to see all the different things that colleges have to offer. And I'm from Michigan, so I'd like to go there and see my friends and get to some camps there,” said Brauns. “I just want to do what I can to see all my options.”
