Photo by: Lauren Garcia
Brown Featured on PacWest TV
7/9/2015 12:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Two years ago, Chris Brown joined on as one of California Baptist University head coach Rick Croy's first recruits and established himself as a key member of the team. He was named the inaugural PacWest Defender of the Year in 2013-14 and showed his leadership on and off the court. The PacWest TV showcased the senior guard and his inspiring story of heart and determination in this video.
Although it's not evident from the way Brown plays, dishing out assist after assist to his teammates, he is blind in one eye. To Brown, however, it's not a setback, it's a part of who he is.
"I was about five or six when I really noticed that I was blind [in one eye]," said Brown. "It wasn't a big deal to me because I was still capable of doing what a normal kid does and play ball."
His junior season, Brown led the team with 104 assists and a second-best 31 steals. This past year, Brown finished with an average of 2.2 assists per game and ranked in the PacWest's top-10 in steals, averaging 1.3 per contest.
For a majority of the first year Brown was on the team, the Lancers didn't know about his uniqueness. Croy and the rest of the Lancers found out about Brown's blindness on a road trip when he shared his story.
"We were somewhat shocked when he communicated that to us, but Chris has always been defined by his heart and passion," said Croy. "He's never let anything hold him back. He had an incredible career here and just adds to his legend. Whatever he touches, he makes it special. He's really put our program in a position to be great for years to come."
Throughout his two years on the court for the Lancers, Brown's competitive spirit helped lead his team to back-to-back NCAA Division II tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 finish this past season, and the program's first PacWest Championship in 2013-14. CBU has also boasted a 30-1 record at home, 50-11 overall record.
Off the court, his determination is still very much alive as Brown set a goal to be an example for his younger generations back home as the first of his family to graduate with a college degree.
"I come from a background with not a lot of money," said Brown, who grew up in some tougher parts of Los Angeles. "I don't want the younger members of my family to have to go through what the elder generation has gone through, like not going to school or dropping out of it. I want them to be able to look up to me and think, 'I want to be like Uncle Chris' or in the future 'be like Dad' and set a goal and achieve it."
Although it's not evident from the way Brown plays, dishing out assist after assist to his teammates, he is blind in one eye. To Brown, however, it's not a setback, it's a part of who he is.
"I was about five or six when I really noticed that I was blind [in one eye]," said Brown. "It wasn't a big deal to me because I was still capable of doing what a normal kid does and play ball."
His junior season, Brown led the team with 104 assists and a second-best 31 steals. This past year, Brown finished with an average of 2.2 assists per game and ranked in the PacWest's top-10 in steals, averaging 1.3 per contest.
For a majority of the first year Brown was on the team, the Lancers didn't know about his uniqueness. Croy and the rest of the Lancers found out about Brown's blindness on a road trip when he shared his story.
"We were somewhat shocked when he communicated that to us, but Chris has always been defined by his heart and passion," said Croy. "He's never let anything hold him back. He had an incredible career here and just adds to his legend. Whatever he touches, he makes it special. He's really put our program in a position to be great for years to come."
Throughout his two years on the court for the Lancers, Brown's competitive spirit helped lead his team to back-to-back NCAA Division II tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 finish this past season, and the program's first PacWest Championship in 2013-14. CBU has also boasted a 30-1 record at home, 50-11 overall record.
Off the court, his determination is still very much alive as Brown set a goal to be an example for his younger generations back home as the first of his family to graduate with a college degree.
"I come from a background with not a lot of money," said Brown, who grew up in some tougher parts of Los Angeles. "I don't want the younger members of my family to have to go through what the elder generation has gone through, like not going to school or dropping out of it. I want them to be able to look up to me and think, 'I want to be like Uncle Chris' or in the future 'be like Dad' and set a goal and achieve it."
Players Mentioned
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