Deleon Brown was still 17 years old when he graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School last May. So when the Buffaloes' coaches asked him to spend a year at a prep school, the versatile guard gladly accepted the opportunity to grow and mature, while preserving all of his eligibility.
Brown enrolled at Brewster Academy, which is located in New Hampshire, and he averaged roughly 13 points per game this winter. Playing primarily at shooting guard, Brown helped the Bobcats to the quarterfinals at the National Prep Schools Championship Tournament. They lost in overtime to Hargrave Military Academy, the eventual national champions.
While living in a dorm room and taking college prep classes more than 800 miles from his hometown in Michigan, Brown has gained valuable experience on and off the court. He will finish up his schooling at Brewster Academy on May 28 and he will be on campus at Colorado ready to begin summer school on June 1.
“The experience I got playing at Brewster was great. I got to play in the NEPSAC league, which is one of the best leagues in the country as far as prep basketball goes,” Brown said. “Now, when I go out to Colorado, I will come in battle-tested. We had a tough schedule so I played in a lot of really competitive games.”
Brown, who will turn 19 years old in September, believes he is starting to grow into his body. He currently stands 6-foot-4, 172-pounds. Are there any specific aspects of his game that have improved since he arrived at Brewster Academy?
“I attacked the rim a little more aggressively,” he said. “I am known for being a three-point shooter, a shooting threat. But as far as attacking the basket and creating things inside, I feel like I made improvement in that area this year.”
Brown expects to continue playing primarily a two-guard role when he joins the Buffs.
“He's a terrific player,” Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said of Brown after he signed a letter of intent with the Buffs last November. “He can score the ball; an extremely fast, high level athlete. He's got a great pull-up jump shot, can shoot from three, and get to the rim. He's a guy that's really going to help us.”
After watching the Buffaloes' 2014-15 season as a verbal commitment, then watching Colorado's 2015-16 campaign as a signee, Brown is anxious to finally begin his playing career in Boulder.
“Their coaches have kept telling me how excited they are to have me and that they want me to make an impact right away,” he said. “I am excited. From what I saw this year, I feel like we can just continue to build and have even more success over the years.”
