Brown Brothers Are Back: Duo of Guards Return
The Brown brothers are officially returning to Gainesville to take the court during the 2026-27 season.
Sophomore Isaiah Brown and redshirt junior AJ Brown are a dynamic brother duo that have been playing together for as long as either can remember. The pair suited up in the same jersey at Orlando Christian Prep before they went their separate ways.
Isaiah was rated a 4-star prospect by ESPN before committing to Florida. In his freshman season, he played limited minutes behind a veteran backcourt, totaling 36 points and 18 rebounds in 19 games. His season concluded with a team victory in the NCAA March Madness Tournament.
This season, although it began with uncertainty over his playing time, Isaiah furthered his impact. As first guard off the bench, Isaiah subbed in for Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland. He added explosiveness and intensity to the court in the moments where it was needed most.
Isaiah played a total of 423 minutes, recording 181 points and 84 rebounds.
Despite finding his stride this season, Isaiah is perhaps best remembered for his role in Florida’s heartbreaking early exit in the NCAA tournament, missing the first of two free throws with eight seconds remaining. The late-game miss allowed Iowa to hit a three and take the lead, ultimately sending the Gators packing in the round of 32.
Regardless of the tragic end to his season, Isaiah now has to focus on continuing to improve and furthering his impact to the team in the 2026-27 season.
AJ redshirted during his first year as a Gator, yet he has also been training on and off the court to prepare for play next season.
The eldest brother by two years, AJ left his home state of Florida to play for Ohio, where he spent three seasons. He averaged 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game before entering the transfer portal and committing to Florida in April 2025.
AJ joined his younger brother Isaiah, who had committed to Florida one year prior, becoming the first pair of brothers within the program since 1989.
With senior guard Xaivian Lee graduating, there is a chance for both of the Brown brothers to make a substantial impact during their 2026-27 campaigns. Isaiah’s size and intensity, combined with AJ’s ability to shoot from behind the arc, could present a challenge for future opponents.
Despite being related, the Brown brothers admit their style of play is different. AJ describes Isaiah as a quick, high-energy player, saying that he was “the most athletic on the team” in October. Isaiah acknowledges that the element he needs to improve the most is his shooting, something that his older brother excels in.
During his time at Ohio, AJ was a .371 3-point shooter. In his final season with the Bobcats, he hit 41% from behind the arc. As he looks to elevate his play to the next level, AJ is working on being a better playmaker and distributing the ball.
Being brothers on the same team means there is going to be competition, which Isaiah Brown says is friendly and comes from a place of support for each other.
“With us being brothers, it’s like the most wholesome competition ever. So if I’m the one winning this competition, he’s happy for me,” Isaiah said in October. ”If he’s the one winning the competition, I’m happy. So there’s no bad blood either way the competition goes, so that’s kind of the best competition to have.”
Category: Basketball, College Basketball, Gators Men's Basketball
