[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20101013/GPG020101/101013008/1225/GPG02/Men-s-basketball–UWGB-big-man-gains-strength–confidence

Rahmon Fletcher was discussing Alec Brown’s best attributes on Tuesday during media day for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay basketball teams.

 

“Well, first of all, he’s 7-feet tall,” said Fletcher, UWGB’s all-conference senior guard.

 

Apparently Fletcher missed Brown’s latest measurement.

 

When first-year coach Brian Wardle put his players through an NBA draft camp-style testing day this fall, the freshman from Winona, Minn., surprised everyone when he was measured at 7-foot-1. Brown said that was a barefoot measurement. In basketball shoes, he said he was 7-2.

 

The first 7-footer in UWGB men’s basketball history agreed to be measured at media day, and his new measurement turned out to be legitimate. Wearing relatively flat (non-basketball) shoes, Brown measured 7-1 1/8.

 

“I must have grown like an inch in the last few months,” Brown said.

 

Perhaps more importantly, Brown has begun to add some weight. He weighed 200 pounds when he came to UWGB for summer school in June and has bulked up to 210 pounds. Make no mistake about it, that’s still skinny for a 7-footer, but he feels like he’s starting to get stronger.

 

In early pickup games this summer, Brown would get pushed around by the other Phoenix big men — senior Greg LeSage (6-8, 225) and redshirt freshman Clayton Heuer (6-9, 225).

 

“It’s obviously a lot different than playing against a bunch of kids that are half my height and aren’t very strong,” said Brown, who averaged 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.9 blocked shots per game as a high school senior. “It’s going to be tough, but I’m going to fight through the first year until I get stronger.”

 

Still, Brown is doing his best to push back against guys like LeSage and Heuer. The weight he’s added has helped, and so has the confidence that comes from being in the gym and competing against established Division I players day after day. The real tests await when regular practices start Friday, when the Phoenix plays its lone exhibition game on Nov. 8 against Edgewood and when the season opens for real on Nov. 13 against Minnesota-Duluth.

 

“A couple of weeks ago, we were playing pickup games, and he caught a lob for a dunk, and he was like, ‘that felt good,’” Fletcher said. “I told him to do it again. Ever since then, he’s been rebounding and trying to dunk more. Greg has really been helping him out because you know how physical Greg can be, and Alec is feeding off Greg.”

 

Preseason pickup games also have shown Brown’s athleticism. Unlike some big men at the midmajor level, he doesn’t play flatfooted. Wardle said Brown is starting to get “boxer’s feet,” meaning he moves well, and Brown’s vertical jump was measured at 28 inches.

 

“That’s very high for a 7-foot kid,” Wardle said. “He’s a good athlete. He’s just got to play athletic all the time, and I think that’s been his big adjustment.”

 

Brown called the adjustment from Minnesota high school basketball to Division I workouts “huge.”

 

“It’s not even a step; it’s a jump,” Brown said. “But I’m having fun and liking it a lot.”

 

With the loss of starting center Randy Berry and top backup Pat Nelson to graduation after last season, there are big-man minutes to be had this season. Given that Wardle has stated his commitment to defense and rebounding, Brown would seemingly have an opportunity right away. Plus, he has the one thing no one else on the Phoenix has.

 

“You can’t coach height,” Fletcher said, “however tall he is.”

[JNixonParticipant]

"Alec" must be the name of the unheralded high school prospect who bursts onto the scene out of nowhere (Alec Burks of Colorado too).

I want to see how he’ll play. Should be interesting.

[JNixonParticipant]

"Alec" must be the name of the unheralded high school prospect who bursts onto the scene out of nowhere (Alec Burks of Colorado too).

I want to see how he’ll play. Should be interesting.

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

down goes butler

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

down goes butler

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

my high school team played him in the state tournament.  He tore us up.  He had like 25 points 15 boards and 7 blocks.  my team is really small, but i do not think that he will be able to play in the nba.  He is tall but is extremely weak and does not move very well.  The best attribute of his game is his touch around the basket, passing, and he can hit the 15 foot jumper.

 

 

 

 I did hit a floater over him by the way…. 

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

my high school team played him in the state tournament.  He tore us up.  He had like 25 points 15 boards and 7 blocks.  my team is really small, but i do not think that he will be able to play in the nba.  He is tall but is extremely weak and does not move very well.  The best attribute of his game is his touch around the basket, passing, and he can hit the 15 foot jumper.

 

 

 

 I did hit a floater over him by the way…. 

[ChewyParticipant]

its funny how when a player gets big in college and/or NBA we can always remember atleast one play against them.

I still remember when I ripped Shawn Livingston at half in an exposure tournament in hs. Does that mean I can check Shawn- No, but I still will brag about that the rest of my life haha

[ChewyParticipant]

its funny how when a player gets big in college and/or NBA we can always remember atleast one play against them.

I still remember when I ripped Shawn Livingston at half in an exposure tournament in hs. Does that mean I can check Shawn- No, but I still will brag about that the rest of my life haha

[Steven]

 that is ill. same, i was a sophmore year and i did a d.wade pull back inbetween the legs on mike trimboli and he reached, and well i teached. lol ill always brag. but none the less in this pick up game to 11  i believe… he had 8 point out of his teams 11. hes amazing 

[Steven]

 that is ill. same, i was a sophmore year and i did a d.wade pull back inbetween the legs on mike trimboli and he reached, and well i teached. lol ill always brag. but none the less in this pick up game to 11  i believe… he had 8 point out of his teams 11. hes amazing 

[Author]

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