After dominating the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, Jaylen Brown’s thoughts were on a lonely lunch table inside Wheeler High School.
The second-year Boston Celtics forward had just played one of the best games his life, 22 points and seven rebounds, having just found out about the death of his best friend.
“He inspired me to come out and play and I played in his spirit,” Brown said about his friend Trevin Steede.
Brown said the circumstances of Steede’s death are still being determined and he declined further comment out of respect for his family, The Associated Press reported.
READ: 10 from Cobb County to watch in college basketball this year
All six feet and four inches of Brown transferred to Wheeler as a freshman.
“I remember I didn't have any friends,” Brown said. “The first few days I sat at the lunch table by myself — I'm super quiet and didn’t know anybody.”
Steede noticed Brown sitting alone one day and told him he could sit with him.
READ: What are the biggest high schools in Cobb County?
“Ever since then we’ve been best friends. ... He’s been my brother,” Brown said.
He came out of Wheeler a five-star recruit ranked eighth in the nation by ESPN and first in Georgia. He went on to play at Cal.
The Celtics selected Brown as the third pick of the 2016 draft. They entered the game Thursday on a 13-game winning streak.
After the final buzzer, teammate Kyrie Irving walked over and embraced Brown. “Ky gave me the game ball and said, ‘This one was for Trevin,’ ” Brown said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Like Cobb County News Now on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter
Brown back in the day talking about being a top prospect:
About the Author
