E-Comm alumnus first Canuck picked to NBL

[attach]5010[/attach]With the fifth pick in the inaugural draft for the National Basketball League of Canada the Saint John Mill Rats selected former Eastern Commerce star Jerome Brown.

Brown was the first Canadian picked to the new professional basketball league. The NBL, as it is called, consists of seven teams, all located in central and eastern Canada. Brown was the Mill Rats’ first overall selection.

“It felt great,” Brown said about being drafted. “It was just a blessing to be playing in Canada.”

Pre-draft workouts were split into two groups, Canadian players and foreign players. Despite being a Canuck, Brown opted to play with the mostly American-born ballers. That willingness to push himself was just one of the qualities that caught the eye of Saint John’s coaching staff.

“I got the chance to see him in the combine and I was impressed,” said head coach Jaren Jackson. “He was a confident player, strong player and wasn’t intimidated by anybody, including veteran players that were there, as well any other player that was bigger than him.”

Before his coaching career Jackson played professionally in the National Basketball Association and won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2001. Jackson stands 6-foot-4 and during his playing days weighed 200 pounds. Brown is currently listed at the exact same height and weight and said he is excited to learn from the fellow wing player.

In order to play for Jackson, Brown left Panola College in Texas where he played junior college basketball. Before then, he played his final year of high school basketball under coach Roy Rana at Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute where Brown said he learned confidence in his game.

Brown still has that confidence and set his sights high for the upcoming season.

“My goal is to win the championship and try to get MVP,” he said.

The road to that goal starts on Oct. 21 when the Mill Rats open their season in Quebec City against the Kebs before hosting them two days later in Saint John.

Brown said he has never been to New Brunswick but doesn’t anticipate much of an adjustment.

“I’m usually traveling so I’m used to it and I’m just going to be excited to play,” he said.