From the hoops of Iowa City to Belmont and back to Iowa City, Even Brauns has gone wherever basketball has taken him. Now, the 6-foot-9 center will make the longest journey of his career.
Brauns, who shined first for Iowa City West High School, has signed a professional contract to play for the Yamaguchi Patsfive of the Japanese B League.
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An all-state selection and McDonald's All-American nominee, Brauns averaged almost 16 points and seven rebounds per game as a senior after posting 11 points with 5.5 rebounds per game as a junior.
Hawk Forever 🖤💛 https://t.co/6NYBIeVKwu
— Even Brauns (@EvenBrauns) July 8, 2025
Iowa City West finished 22-3 his senior year, as he was regarded as the No. 2 prospect in the state by ESPN and 247Sports.
Brauns went on to play for three seasons at Belmont in the Ohio Valley Conference, posting seven points per game as a junior. He transferred back home and played two seasons with the Iowa Hawkeyes, appearing in 44 games.
He had his best stretch of play in a Hawkeye uniform over the final 12 games of the 2024-25 season, averaging 5.5 points and almost two rebounds while shooting 85 percent from the field. He scored a career-high 15 points vs. Oregon.
The team was created in 2020 and plays in Ube, Yamaguchi. The B League competes under the umbrella of the Japan Professional Basketball League, which consists of three leagues and 55 total teams.
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