Coaches Son Brown Balances Team and Family Well
April 4, 2006 – Being the son of a basketball coach can be a tough road for a young hooper. Not only must you perform like every other player, but because of the familial relationship, everyone expects the kid to not only play well, but be very mature and never make a mistake – basically perform as a coach on the floor. Talk about unrealistic expectations!
And if the young person actually plays for his parent, there is the delicate line a coach’s child must walk; the one between being a trusted part of the team, and maintaining loyalty to the one that feed and clothes him/her.
Trevor Brown, Jr, a 5’10”, 160lb sophomore guard attending National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, MD) is a young guy that has to date, handled these challenges well. As a perimeter player who possesses a nice shooting touch, Brown has juggled the challenges of working on his game and just being one of the guys, all while being coached by his father, Trevor Brown, Sr.
Upon being asked if the dual roles of being both teammate and son was problematic, the younger Brown said via telephone interview, “Not really”, as “I’ve been around my teammates all of life (a number of former players have lived with Brown previously)”. Additionally, his dad helps by not playing favorites. “He treats me like any other basketball player” said the young guy.
“I think he handles it (the pressure) well” of his various roles said the elder Brown, from a well deserved vacation. The young guy is pretty adept at “keeping whatever his teammates say between them” and vice-versa – in effect the kid, separates his duties as teammate and son.
According to Coach Brown, his namesake can do this because of the young man’s present maturity level. Previously, National Christian’s coach felt his son “was very immature”, but thinks “he has matured” tremendously as of late.
Talking to the younger Brown, that maturity was evident. When the question of his academic progress was broached, the young guy honestly provided his assessment. “My grades went down (he was previously on the honor roll), and I couldn’t play” late in the season, said Trevor. According to him, he wasn’t fully applying himself in the classroom, and greatly regrets the decision no to. “It hit me when my report card came out” said the young Brown. “I couldn’t play ball, and had to watch”. Resultantly, Trevor has learned from the experience, and vows never to slip in the classroom again.
On the court, though Trevor’s dad is an esteemed coach, the young guy has only really played two years of organized basketball. In an effort to ensure his development from shooting guard to point man continues, Coach Brown, as he does with many young ball players in the National Christian program, plays Trevor in both junior varsity and varsity contests. “I try to play him at the point a lot on J.V.” revealed the elder Brown, where the young man averaged about “10 points and 4 assists”.
Against more talented, experienced, and older varsity competition, Trevor tallied approximately “4 points and 2 assists” according to this dad, mostly at the shooting guard spot. Being the intelligent young man he is, the younger Brown recognizes even though his current on court strength is shooting the rock, to play college ball he will have to be a one (point guard).
“I really want to go to the point guard position, since I can’t be a 5’10” shooting guard” beyond high school, he said. To effectuate the migration between positions, Trevor plans to work extensively on his “ball handling and I.Q.” this spring and summer. Fans can monitor Trevor's development by watching him play for DC Assault’s 16 and under team, as well as National Christian’s spring/summer team.
In addition to the games, Trevor believes playing and working out with current and former National Christian players assist greatly in his efforts to excel at a new position. He specifically identified “Just playing with my point guard (Brian McMikle) and checking him everyday” has improved his game tremendously.
On the subject of the school’s past players, Jessie Sapp (Georgetown guard) and Chris Coles (current Hartford point man) were specifically mentioned. He and Coles (whose nickname is Fat Cat) have an especially close relationship and Trevor shared “When Fat Cat comes back”, the Hartford guard “gives me pointers”.
Of course the young Brown also enjoys non-basketball related activities, and during the spring/summer months, he has more time for them. “In the off-season, some weekends we have off” said Trevor. This includes enjoying the tunes of “Jay-Z and Young Jeezy” and Go-Go bands, attending movies and visiting malls, as well as chowing down on his grandmother’s spaghetti.
Given his maturity, intelligence, willingness to improve, and the coaching under his own roof, Trevor Brown Jr. will become the point guard he desires to be. At that juncture, his self-identified 17 point performance against the McDonogh School in this past season’s Towson Tip Off will be common.
Sometime afterward, the young Brown will be a National Christian alum that comes back to help a young player develop. After that, who knows, Trevor may follow in his Dad’s footsteps and coach himself. Whatever he chooses to do, he’ll work hard at it, ask for no special dispensation, and expect none as well. It’s his way.