Waubonsie’s Brownridge commits to Santa Clara

Santa Clara traveled 2,128 miles in search of a shooter and will bring a heck of a dead-eye home with them next fall as Waubonsie Valley’s Jared Brownridge committed to the Broncos on Tuesday.

The highly-regarded Brownridge, who was down to Southern Illinois, Drake and Santa Clara after receiving double-digit mid-major offers, decided to end things after a decision-making official visit this past weekend. The work head coach Kerry Keating and assistant Dustin Kerns put in went a long way in locking up Brownridge.

“The coaching staff has been recruiting me for a long time, going to my high school games and AAU games,” Brownridge pointed out. “That went a long way. My whole family loves the staff.”

Waubonsie Valley coach Steve Weemer was also impressed with the work put in by Santa Clara and the interest the staff showed his star guard.

“The loyalty was definitely there,” says Weemer. “I think Santa Clara recruited Jared the longest. They consistently showed such great interest throughout the process.”

In addition, the Santa Clara education played a major role in Brownridge’s decision. The highly-regarded academics at Santa Clara, which is located in California’s Silicon Valley, was a big factor.

“What they showed us academically blew us away,” says Brownridge.

Santa Clara, which finished 8-22 a year ago after winning 24 games during the 2010-2011 season, will be getting one of the premier shooters in Illinois. Brownridge, who is among the top 20 prospects in an impressive Class of 2013 in Illinois, has a simple, pure and repetitive release on his jumper. A catch-and-shoot specialist, Brownridge has become a bigger offensive weapon with his ability to get to the basket and score better in transition.

The 6-1 senior guard put up some impressive numbers as a junior, averaging 20.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals a game. He knocked down 58 from beyond the arc and scored 31 and 30 points in his final two games in the postseason last March. He is eight points shy of 1,000 career points and with a big senior year could finish as the all-time leading scorer in school history.

“In the coaching profession you don’t get to coach this type of kid very often,” says Weemer. “When you do get that chance, you better enjoy it. He’s such a high-character kid who does things the right way. He’s fun to be around and a lot of fun to coach.”

Brownridge will lead a Waubonsie Valley team that figures to be among the top two teams in the Upstate Eight this season.

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