Welcome to A10 Talk’s Preseason Top 25 Player Countdown for the 2018-19 season. Each day, we’ll be publishing a new article counting down our best 25 players for the coming season, as voted on by our staff of writers. Today, we feature #8 Charlie Brown of Saint Joseph’s.
What He’s Done
This local product is no blockhead. Philadelphia phenom, Charlie Brown, represented his hometown Saint Joseph Hawks well during his freshman year in 2016-17. After his team was ravaged by injuries, he took the reins, playing in all 30 contests and starting in all but one. Brown showed his knack for scoring by averaging 12.8 points per game and 13.6 points against A-10 teams. He was dangerous from all over the floor, including behind the arc, shooting .384 percent from the three point line, as well as converting almost 82% of his free throws when sent to the charity stripe. He also grabbed 5 rebounds per contest to go along with his strong offense driven skillset.
With his exciting play and strong leadership, Brown earned All-Rookie Honors and was named to the 2017 Preseason All-Atlantic 10 Third Team. Unfortunately, that would be the last we saw of Charlie Brown for a while. He fell in line with his teammates and got bit by the injury bug himself. Fracturing his left wrist in an early season practice in what was originally diagnosed as an injury that would only sideline him for a few weeks, Brown elected to have surgery and was forced to redshirt during the 2017-18 season. Good grief…
What He’ll Do
While a player is usually an anomaly when they return from a season long injury after a breakout campaign, Charlie Brown is not. Luckily, Brown’s injury was to his non-shooting wrist, so we should still see his high volume shooting this season. Brown does need to get stronger as he is less than 200 lbs and stands 6’7.” However, we will see a much better St. Joe’s team around him if everyone stays healthy.
Brown will have the likes of Lamarr Kimble, also a high perennial scorer, returning from a lost season as a medical redshirt who we last saw lead the team in scoring with 15.5 points a night. Taylor Funk also provides assistance in the scoring department, taking the weight off of Brown’s shoulders. St. Joe’s has a much deeper team than in years past and carries a roster full of dangerously talented players.
Look for Brown to be feared by opponents this season as he will be as determined as ever and can score at will. He will bring a passionate game to make up for a disappointing and frustrating year last season as the Hawks have been quietly waiting to make a statement with their strong lineup. If Brown can make people forget about his injury and remind them of the durability and talent he displayed his freshman season there no telling how competitive he will make St. Joe’s this year. The Hawks are ready to make a statement and Brown is poised to reemerge with them.
Previously: #9 Hasahn French
