These days, Michael Porter Jr. is delivering All-Star-level production with the Brooklyn Nets. The skilled 6’10’’ forward — now the centerpiece of his own team — is finally proving that his extraordinary high school promise wasn’t simply a fluke.
But not everyone from that class made it — the starkest contrast being Zach Brown.
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Porter Jr., 27, admitted he recently became curious about Brown, who was such a dominant presence in high school. But one Google search, as the former recently recounted on the “Ball in the Family” podcast, revealed something he certainly didn’t expect — a mugshot of the once-promising big man that revealed Brown had transitioned.
Once unstoppable
As a freshman in Miami, Brown, now living as Jessica Turbery, already stood seven feet tall, posting unbelievable numbers.
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According to reports at the time, the four-star recruit averaged 18 points, 16 rebounds, and nearly seven blocks per game as a freshman. By sophomore season, those numbers even climbed to 19 points, 17 rebounds and almost nine blocks.
Averaging nearly a triple-double is something most can only dream of, whether at that lower stage or the pro level. As a result, Brown earned invitations to elite camps and played, according to Porter, at “all the camps,” including the McDonald’s All-American Game.
“He was, like, the number three or number four center in our class. Seven foot. A couple years passed by. I get on Google or something, and it just — he had a mugshot, but he, like, fully transitioned. Dude is seven foot, bro. He transitioned, dog. Like, he’s, like, a woman now. I seen it, like, ’cause I thought he’d be really good, right?”recalled the 2023 NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets.
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An NBA future that unraveled
By all accounts — and Porter Jr. certainly believed it himself — Brown seemed on the way to the big league, with prominent basketball programs, UConn, showing interest. Another article says Brown was once ranked in the top 30 by some recruiting sites.
Things, however, turned out very differently.
Ultimately, Brown’s journey after signing with St. John fell flat due to a series of setbacks, including multiple transfers, on-campus clashes and legal issues. One of the more serious incidents included arrests for robbery and fraud, costing Brown several college offers.
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Nowadays, Porter Jr. — whose strong performances in the 2025–26 NBA season find him in trade talks, possibly to a fringe contender like the Golden State Warriors — says Turbery doesn’t play ball anymore.
If the game of basketball didn’t work out the way it once seemed, one can at least hope Turbery has found happiness in her new identity.
LiAngelo Ball echoed that sentiment during the segment of the interview, saying, “Man, live your truth.”
Related: When an ex-NBA player admitted he cheated on his childhood sweetheart 341 times
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.