Steady as He Goes

Kamyron Brown has room for a few more championship rings on his fingers. It’s his wrists that are getting crowded.

What began as a simple team gift from coaches at Santa Ana Mater Dei has turned into a season-long hobby for Brown, a 6-foot-1 junior point guard.

Dozens of colorful plastic bracelets encase half his forearms.

“I never take them off except for games,” he said after practice Tuesday.

No problem, Brown stands out in other ways on the basketball court. So much so, he has emerged as one of the Southland’s top floor generals in only his second season on varsity.

His strong overall play is a big reason the Monarchs (33-2) will be making a record ninth state championship game appearance Friday at Arco Arena in Sacramento, where they will play Palo Alto (31-1) in the Division II final.

“Without him, I don’t think we’d be where we’re at,” said teammate Taylor King, another junior who leads the team in scoring and rebounding.

Brown has earned increased attention this season because his best performances have come in Mater Dei’s biggest games.

Averaging a modest 10.6 points, 7.6 assists and four rebounds, Brown scored a season-high 23 points in an 84-67 victory over Villa Park on Saturday in the Southern California Regional final at the Sports Arena. Five days earlier against the same Spartans in the Southern Section Division II-AA final at the Arrowhead Pond, he had 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in an 80-67 victory.

Two of his better performances came against rival Santa Margarita in Serra League play, when he totaled 35 points in two victories. He also scored 16 points in a 91-89 overtime victory against City Section champion Westchester during the Nike Extravaganza at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Brown said he had talks with himself before the big games.

“I told myself, ‘If I come to play, my team will come to play,’ ” he said. “And I came to play big.”

Arizona has a head start in recruiting Brown, but Washington isn’t far behind. Brown’s cousin is Miles Simon, the former Mater Dei and Arizona standout who is now an assistant coach for the Wildcats. Arizona coaches have been a familiar sight at Monarch games, securing a commitment earlier this season from Alex Jacobson, their 7-1 junior center.

When Brown enrolled at Mater Dei, his goal was to play varsity basketball as a ninth-grader. His confidence grew the summer before his freshman year when he played entire games for the Monarchs because returning starter Mike Gerrity was injured.

“It didn’t seem like it was that big of a challenge to get on varsity,” Brown said. “Then when I actually got to play with the varsity team, it was a lot quicker and a lot more physical.”

Following in the footsteps of his brother, Kyle, Brown played football as a freshman, but when he returned to basketball, so had Gerrity, and the freshman became a member of the junior varsity team.

Brown played full time for the JV squad and the next summer he decided to give up football to put in the extra work needed to earn a varsity spot.

So impressed by his dedication and skills, Coach Gary McKnight made him a starter. Sharing point guard duties with Gerrity, now at Pepperdine, and playing alongside Jacobson and another sophomore, King, Brown averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 assists and the Monarchs reached the Division II state final.

Last summer, Brown spent hours in the gym honing his overall game and working on improving his jump shot. Bob Serven, Mater Dei’s associate head coach, said Brown tended to tilt his head back in the middle of his shot. Once that was eliminated, Brown began finding a consistent stroke.

“He’s a real student of the game,” Serven said. “You can teach him anything.”

During the section final, Villa Park got off to a hot start, making five of six three-point baskets, but Brown made a jump shot at the end of first quarter to cut the deficit to two. He then forced a turnover early in the second quarter and turned it into a layup for a 23-21 lead. By the time Brown made a three-pointer to end the third quarter, the Monarchs had a 16-point advantage.

In the rematch Saturday, Brown didn’t waste any time, making a three-pointer on Mater Dei’s second possession and another at the end of an 8-0 fourth-quarter run for a 15-point lead.

“His jump shot has gotten a lot better,” King said. “When people are going toward me and Alex and double-teaming us, Kamyron really steps up and hits big shots.”

King, who has committed to Duke, played against Brown when they were in the fifth grade. He said he’s amazed at how far he has progressed.

“He has worked so hard, it’s unbelievable,” King said. “No wonder every college in the country wants him now.”

Brown says he doesn’t have any official offers but expects things to heat up after the season.

“Hopefully, over the summer, I’ll narrow it down and commit before the season starts,” he said.

In the meantime, there’s another ring to secure, and probably a few more bracelets.