Justin Brownlee helped make a name for himself and St. John’s University for many different reasons last season.
The 6-foot-7 forward was the team’s second leading scorer and rebounder in his final season as the program made a return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002. Even with all that there is one play Brownlee was remembered for when he walks around New York City.
“Everybody knows me as the kid that threw the ball into the stands against Rutgers,” he said. “That’s kind of bad, but that’s how people remember me.”
Brownlee did just that in celebration of the Red Storm’s two-point win over the Scarlet Knights in the second round of the Big East tournament. It was the source of controversy because there appeared to be time left on the clock as he stepped on the out-of-bounds line in front of the scorer’s table, but no call was made by the referees.
“It’s [calmed] down, but in the beginning he got it,” former St. John’s teammate Paris Horne said of the negative attention.
The two can laugh about it now as they enjoy their second summer playing together at Nike Pro City at Baruch College, considered one of the top streetball leagues in New York City. Brownlee and Horne, a 6-foot-3 guard, were in uniform Tuesday night for Jason Curry’s Big Apple Basketball team as it picked up a 125-116 win over Primetime at Pro City. Brownlee scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. Horne added six points, three rebounds and three assists. Fellow Red Storm teammate Sean Evans is also on the roster.
“It shows you where your game is,” Horne said of playing at Pro City.
Both still have aspirations of playing professionally when the summer ends. Brownlee, who averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for St. John’s last season, had workouts with the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder before the draft and Horne, who plans on playing in Germany next season, worked out for the 76ers. Brownlee said he is looking overseas as well with the NBA lockout, but got the most out of trying out for the NBA.
“The whole experience is great,” he said. “I learned a lot from it. Hopefully I can grow from it.”
Brownlee, who is also playing at Dyckman and Hoops in the Sun, showed off his 3-point stroke Tuesday night, connecting on his first three attempts en route to 11 first-half points. Horne who can also knock it down from behind the arc let loose his explosive first step to blow past defenders with ease to create for himself and others. Horne believes playing in the league will get them used to the style and level of play they will soon see as professionals.
“We are just learning a whole lot of stuff, he said. “The pick and roll game, spreading, pick and pop, coming off curls.”
Each hope their skills will continue to help names for themselves wherever they can – like they did last year helping St. John’s win 21 games, including over the likes of Duke, Pittsburgh and Georgetown.
“It’s a basketball city,” Brownlee said. “If you are winning they are probably the best fans in the world for you. If you are losing you can get criticized. But it was great all around sharing it with my teammates. It’s a time I’ll never forget.”