Season of Work: Darrell Brown, Jr.

The eighth installment of the Bradley Basketball summer series Season of Work spotlights freshman point guard Darrell Brown, Jr.

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Men's Basketball 8/4/2016 12:05:00 PM

In order to fill the days before Bradley Basketball officially begins the NCAA Championship segment of its season with its first full practice of the segment Sept. 30, BradleyBraves.com continues to profile each of the team's 15 players in a weekly spotlight entitled Season of Work. Each spotlight includes a video breakdown session with Braves head coach Brian Wardle. The seventh installment of the Season of Work series features freshman guard Darrell Brown, Jr.

Season of Work: Darrell Brown, Jr.

Full Name: Darrell Lashawn Brown, Jr.
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 175 lbs
Major: Medical Laboratory Science
Hometown: Memphis, TN (Germantown H.S.)

OVERVIEW
Point guard was a priority in Bradley's 2016 recruiting class and the Braves brought in two freshmen to fill the position – Brown and Jayden Hodgson. Brown draws comparisons to former Bradley point guard Daniel Ruffin (2004-08), as both players check in at 5'10" with slim builds. The duo had the opportunity to challenge each other head-to-head when the Always A Brave alumni team played the current Braves in a pair of scrimmages leading up to this summer's TBT.

The 2016 District 15AAA Player of the Year, Brown averaged 22.6 points, 6.1 assists, 3 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game during his senior season, when he also was selected a Tennessee State All-Star. During the season, he was selected the tournament MVP at the Centralia Christmas Tournament, the Penny Hardaway Classic and Memphis City Championship.

With plans to major in medical laboratory science at Bradley, Brown received the Tennessee State Athletic Association Award of Classroom Excellence.

THE WARRIORS CONNECTION
While Brown draws comparisons to Ruffin, both players also have connections to the Golden State Warriors. Ruffin was a high school teammate of current Warriors guard Shaun Livingston, while Brown comes to Bradley from the same high school that produced one of Livingston's backcourt running mates at Golden State, Ian Clark. Though Ruffin's high school career was somewhat overshadowed by Livingston, Brown broke out of the shadow cast by Clark by breaking the latter's Germantown High School scoring record with 2,678 career points.

TIES TO MEMPHIS GREATS
When referencing family members who have played college or professional sports, Brown listed his Godfather, Penny Hardaway, and "uncle," Todd Day. Two of the greatest basketball players from Memphis, Brown indicates Hardaway and Day both are close friends with his father, Darrell Brown, Sr.

Originally from Decatur, IL and a graduate of Memphis Hamilton H.S., Day starred at Arkansas and was the eighth overall selection in the 1992 NBA Draft. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway is a Memphis native who stayed home to play college basketball at the University of Memphis, before being selected with the third overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft.

PERSONALLY SPEAKING
Nicknames: DB, DB Cinco
How I got my nickname: My initials and my initials, plus my uniform number (5)
I wear my uniform number because: It is the age I started playing basketball
Favorite food: Steak and baked potato
Favorite TV sports announcer: Dick Vitale
Favorite sports movie: Rebound
Hobbies: Playing basketball, shopping, playing video games
The first thing I thought when meeting Coach Wardle for the first time: He's a nice coach
My first memory playing basketball: Breaking my high school's scoring record, set by Ian Clark
The best player I have ever played against: My dad, Penny Hardaway and Todd Day
The person who has most influenced by athletics career: My dad
The most memorable moment of my life: Signing my scholarship to come to Bradley
My best non-athletic talent: Dancing
Most people don't know this, but: I can play football
Nobody believes me when I tell them: I could run cross country
If I wasn't playing basketball, I would be: Opening a business
When I played basketball as a kid, I pretended I was: Allen Iverson
My motto is: Keep calm and watch DB work; and heart over height

SEASON OF WORK FEATURES
Thursday, June 16:  Junior forward Donte Thomas | Direct Link
Thursday, June 23:  Sophomore forward Luuk van Bree | Direct Link
Friday, June 30:  Freshman forward Jerome Merritt | Direct Link
Thursday, July 7: Sophomore guard Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye | Direct Link
Thursday, July 14: Freshman guard Nate Kennell | Direct Link
Thursday, July 21:  Freshman guard Jayden Hodgson | Direct Link
Monday, August 1: Sophomore center Callum Barker | Direct Link

Print Friendly Version