Q&A with freshman guard Trent Brown
11/06/2019 | 2:47:00 | Men's Basketball
Trent Brown was the first player to commit to SIU after head coach Bryan Mullins was hired in March. Get to know the freshman guard with this Q&A.Â
The Basics
Two older sisters: Darby and Lily
Parents: Kim and Mark Brown
Inspiration: "My dad. He coached me my whole life. He played at Michigan State, then transferred to Western Michigan and finished his career there.Â
Did you play other sports?
"Growing up, I played pretty much everything I could find: basketball, baseball, football, soccer, track and field -- just anything I could do. Basketball was definitely the way to go. Football, I can say I had a pretty good arm. I've always liked the quarterback position, but at my high school, we had a good QB Spencer Rattler, who is now at Oklahoma."
When did you fall in love with basketball?
"I always knew basketball was going to be my sport. In my childhood, I played because it is a family sport, so just being around it so much helped push me towards it. But I would say it was around middle school when I really started to work on my game and develop a love and passion for the game. It has also been very cool for me to carry on the #24 because my dad, his two brothers, and my granddad all wore it when they played."
Why SIU? How did you feel about the atmosphere of the program during your visit?Â
"When I came on my visit, it was really just the four guys who were returning. They were the only ones who were left, except for the seniors who had already graduated, but I didn't get to talk to them much. The overall feeling and what I got from the coaches, I knew that they were really trying to build something and trying to bring winning back. Obviously, you don't want to go through your career being mediocre; you want to get to the NCAA Tournament. You want to win a lot, and that's what I truly believed they were going to do and wouldn't stop unless they did it. I was pretty much sold directly to SIU. They had everything you look for: community support and a great coaching staff that you could relate to. I was the first to commit, but the belief that they were going to get other players like me -- I just trusted them immediately."
Now that you're here, what have you found here in this program?
"The coaches have stayed very true to their word on exactly what they are going to expect from you in terms of the work, day-in and day-out. They aren't shy from telling you that; and if you're scared, then this isn't the place for you. Everyone has brought great energy every single day and there's a bunch of good kids to do it with."
What are your expectations for the season?Â
"Honestly, just to help the team win as much as possible. I can't determine my own playing time or when I get put in; but in anything I do, whether it be practice, cheering everyone on, whatever it is, I want to be there for everybody and create a winning culture."
What's the best thing about being in Carbondale?
"It's really cool to see a community take so much pride in not only the university but basketball specifically. It is definitely very beloved here. Going to work everyday, it makes you feel like you're doing it for a reason and with so much support around you, it makes you work that much harder."
Are there any individual goals you have going into the season?Â
"It's hard to say. Everyone is about team oriented goals. It is in all of us, which has been super cool. No one has ever said one thing about, 'I want to score this many points, have this many assists,' or things like that. Nothing has ever been statistical. Everything is about the wins and losses as a team."
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