Already pumped up to play at UConn, Javonte Brown-Ferguson's excitement level rose to new heights in mid-January.

Brown-Ferguson made the eight-hour trip from his home in Pickering, Ontario, to Philadelphia to watch his future teammates face nationally-ranked Villanova on Jan. 18 at the Wells Fargo Center. He committed to the Huskies last fall.

While UConn stumbled down the stretch and added to its list of painful losses, Brown-Ferguson saw a rising program that he wants to help return to elite status.

"It was a fun experience," Brown-Ferguson said. "It got me way more excited. Really, really excited. I was able to see in person where I'll be able to fit in and where I'm needed. ... I want to make an immediate impact and help them as much as I can."

A 7-foot, 240-pound center from Thornlea Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario, Brown-Ferguson is coming off a productive season in which he averaged 19.5 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and 2.6 blocks. He earned defensive player of the year honors in his league.

UConn coach Dan Hurley envisions a bright future for Brown-Ferguson.

"Javonte has a big upside," Hurley said. "He's a young big that we can really develop and invest in that's got potential to be a tremendous player for us. He gives us a guy that has a back to the basket skill set offensively where he can score. He has a very good offensive feel as a passer, as a pick and roll player and as a guy that's got some back to the basket moves.

"He's something that we've longed for since we got here, which was a big that we can develop behind Isaiah (Whaley) and Josh (Carlton). Hopefully, develop him to the point where he can give us some quality minutes this year."

To prepare for the challenges ahead, Brown-Ferguson is regularly working out with a personal trainer and Shane James, his Thornlea basketball coach, at a private gym. His skill work includes ball handling, expanding his shooting range and polishing his low post moves. His routine also includes strength and conditioning work.

James has seen Brown-Ferguson, who's played basketball for only about five years, make significant progress each season. He's also served as the young center's AAU coach.

"He loves being in the gym," James said. "His improvement every year is insane. Not only that, he's growing, too, as well. He's been super healthy, which we're fortunate for. I only see him continuing to get better, every year, every practice."

Brown-Ferguson was the center of attention every game this past season playing in a league that James describes as a "super competitive with a ton of Division I players." It forced him to work hard every single game.

"We ran our offense through him and made it a point to throw the ball into him every possession and let him make a play," James said. "Throughout the season, he was double or triple teamed. He was very frustrated at times. But it was the best thing for him."

"He learned to become a better passer and learned to make a quicker move and improve his decision-making in general."

James believes that Brown-Ferguson will be able to contribute right away at UConn, especially at the defensive end where he can be a rim protector.

Brown-Ferguson will benefit from practicing every day against veterans Whaley and Carlton, who will be entering their senior season.

When asked what the UConn coaching staff's message is to him, he responded: "They're telling me to be ready because I'm needed and to stay mentally tough and work hard."

He felt a good vibe from the campus and from inside the program during his official visit to UConn in October. The move to the Big East also helped him make his decision to pick the Huskies over Kansas and Texas A&M.

Something else that he saw also convinced him to head to Storrs.

"They seem like they're ready to win again," Brown-Ferguson said. "I like that. They seem excited. In practice, they take everything serious and play with pace and play with effort. In games, they also play the same way. And the team is young, so we can grow together."

Brown-Ferguson, who reclassified to the Class of 2020, will be just 17 when he arrives at UConn. He called "being young on campus" probably his biggest challenge but one that he's looking forward to taking on.

James has faith that Brown-Ferguson has all the traits needed to be successful in college.

"He's a very bright kid in the classroom," James said. "He's a character kid. ... He always plays with a smile on his face, has a lot of charisma, a lot of energy. He likes to be the elephant in the room at times, the jokester. You're going to enjoy watching him play."

g.keefe@theday.com