Chicago, Illinois – The Pro Basketball Association announced on Sunday that the Chicago White Angels had been awarded a franchise in the PBA for the 2021 Spring-Summer Season. Owner Marquise “Kezo” Brown Jr., son of Chicago Angels and Black Angels owner Marquise Brown, has been announced. Kezo (born December 17th, 1999) becomes the youngest owner in PBA history. A quick tour online, wikipedia, or youtube and you’ll find out this young man has quite a story to tell already in his young life.
In the 2014–15 season, Brown became the first freshman to play for Simeon Career Academy under head coach Robert Smith other than Jabari Parker. Before the season, Simeon was ranked 13th in the nation by basketball website MaxPreps, and Smith praised Brown: “He’s a true point guard and does the dirty work. He can score but is also great at getting guys open.” As a freshman, Brown helped the team finish with a 27–3 record and earn a second-place finish at the Chicago Public League Tournament in 2015. He was considered one of the top freshman in the country, drawing attention from various colleges including Nebraska, Depaul, Duke and Kentucky.
Despite his early success, and all the praise and acclaim thrown on him so early, he battled through some health issues that sidelined him for much of his High School career, but returned to score 26 points in the Chicago city title game and Brown made good by helping bring home the city title in his Junior season. However, he missed his Senior season, and his time missed partially derailed some of the big schools from following through and he eventually signed a letter of intent with Chicago State University. That Summer he was considered the biggest recruit in School history. Seen by many to not only be the best player in the City of Chicago, but perhaps Nationally.
The JBA was determined to make a splash and went after him to go straight to the Pros and ranked him as the second best player in the Nation after Lamelo Ball. The Head Coach at Chicago State at the time Tracy Dildy, who spent a lot of time gaining Kezo’s trust as a recruit, then left Chicago State to become the Head Coach of the Chicago Ballers in the JBA. Just a few months later, Brown in a Chicago uniform playing for Dildy, scored 46 points in a game against Houston in the JBA. Brown, shortly after left the JBA as he had an opportunity in France that didn’t materialize, then went to China.
After returning from China, Brown in March of 2019, caught outside of a store on the South side of Chicago was brutally shot 5 times. He survived.
After the shooting, Brown’s father started his own ABA team, the Chicago Angels. In his first game back after recovery, Brown posted a 31-point 11-assist performance as the Angels defeated the Libertyville Vipers 149-110. Marquise Sr. and his business partner Don Johnson now own the franchises Chicago Angels and Chicago Black Angels in the Pro Basketball Association. And now the Chicago White Angels have their owner, Kezo Jr.
This is a story of perseverance. The Angels were looking over Kezo that night. Five shots just narrowly missing vital organs. We see it on the news. We’ve become almost numb to the violence facing inner city America on a nightly basis. How many hundreds of thousands of young men weren’t quite so fortunate? Now the Angels organization, Black Angels, and now White Angels too give something back to their City. It’s called hope! It’s called a positive and creative outlet for self expression. It’s called a discipline and work ethic and team work that sports can offer our own children. When you see men like these that stand up for their community. That work to make a difference in people’s lives and do it in a constructive and compassionate way things begin to change. It might be a few young men. With three teams it might be 36. But how many children are watching? How many Fathers see that they can stand too? How many Mothers rush home from work to make dinner and get the boys to the game? How many fans get more joy from the three pointer, move love in their hearts for the big lob dunk than they do from other less positive distractions in their lives. Let’s go Chicago! Stand together America! Support your hometown Chicago White Angels, Chicago Black Angels, and Chicago Angels. Let’s be great together! The Pro Basketball Association begins play in May Chicago.
You can follow along on social: IG @Kezo_brown2 and the league on FB/IG @probasketballassociation or online at www.PBAplayers.com
