Transition game: Brown thrives in 7A/6A East

— Adjusting mid-season to a different sport can be a difficult task. Add in the fact that the sport an athlete is adjusting to is in arguably the toughest basketball conference in the state, and it's understandable that there might be a buffer period to get used to the game speed.

But don't tell Terrell Brown that. Or for that fact, anyone around his team at Jacksonville.

"It makes you practice hard," Brown said playing in the 7A/6A East Conference. "You work harder in practice, don't take any breaks. Every game you play hard, you've got to come out ready every game."

When the quarterback finished up his season on the gridiron with a loss to Sheridan in the Class 6A playoffs, he spent little time sulking. He couldn't. He had to get ready to bang as a forward in the 7A/6A East, facing the likes of Little Rock Hall, Little Rock Parkview, Jonesboro and West Memphis.

Now he'd go from avoiding contact in the pocket, to inviting it with his 6-6, 200-pound frame in the post as the Red Devils' primary presence under the basket.

He's taken to it well, averaging 15 points, second on the team, and a team-high 9 rebounds per game for the 16-3 Red Devils, who are locked in a four-team race for the conference title.

While getting into basketball shape might be tough for Brown, the anticipation of getting him in to start the process was rough on coach Victor Joyner.

"It's just hard waiting for him to get here from football," Joyner said. "Just trying to get the guy into the gym and get him into on the court. He's a great kid, he's never been a problem."

It's a bonus that Brown's father is an assistant on the ninth grade team, which helped speed up the transition.

"It's a lot different when you come in our conference than in basketball, from football," Brown said. "So when you come in, football guys are the most tired after competing. After about a week we'll be in basketball shape pretty good."

It's evident Brown has made it all the way back on the hardwood. As Jacksonville's biggest body down low, he commands attention and pulls double teams off junior guard and major Division I prospect Justin McCleary.

But Brown isn't only a one-dimensional player.

"He's a load on the block," Joyner said. "He can handle the ball on perimeter. He has guard skills."

While Brown and Joyner said they are focused on the season at-hand, both are aware that as a senior, a college decision will be coming soon. Brown has offers from both Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist as a tight end and an offer from Shawnee Community College in basketball. He's also receiving basketball interests from both Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, along with Arkansas-Little Rock.

He's still not sure what sport he'll play on the next level, but a free ride to college sounds good to Brown, no matter what the playing field.

"Right now I'll take the best scholarship (offer)," Brown said. "I'll play either one. I just want to go to school for free."

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