FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University freshman men’s basketball student-athlete Nik Brown|Ashburn is this week’s Longwood Male Athlete of the Week. The 6-3 guard averaged 15.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals in two games last week. He scored 19 points (6-10 FG, 1-3 3FG, 6-7 FT) to lead the Lancers against Coastal Carolina University (L 80-72) on Jan. 5 in the first-ever league game for the program, adding five assists and one rebound. Brown had 12 points (4-14 FG, 1-6 3FG, 3-7 FT), a career-high and game-high five steals, along with four assists and three rebounds against Fairleigh Dickinson University (L 79-71) on Dec. 31. He is averaging 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists and is the team leader in free throws (38), free throw attempts (57) and assists (54).
Brown was also named the Big South Conference/The Crons Brand Freshman of the Week for games played December 31-January 5, as announced this week by the conference office.
Q&A with Nik Brown
Q: How did it feel to earn Big South Freshman of the Week honors?
A: It felt good to know that some positive is finally starting to come out of the season, being that there have not been too many thus far, as well as it gives me something to build on as I go on down the road.
Q: The Coastal game was the first time you led the team in scoring. Did you do anything different in this game or leading up to it to be so successful?
A: I haven’t been shooting well this season, so I have just been trying to put up a few extra shots here and there, before and after practice, and they paid off during that game.
Q: What are some personal and team goals for the rest of the conference season?
A: A personal goal I have is to just be the best freshman in the conference, and to also be a leader on the court that my teammates trust and look to, and to be able to help lead them to earning a Big South championship. Some goals that we have as a team are winning the BSC championship of course and reaching our maximum potential as a unit.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about Longwood’s first ever conference schedule?
A: I’m looking forward to being able to get in a rhythm. I know that is hard when not being in a conference and playing games on any day of the weak, but now we have Wednesday and Saturday games and your able to develop some type of familiarity with the teams and the schedule.
Q: How does it feel to be in the starting lineup as a freshman?
A: I feel honored to be trusted as the starting point guard on a Division I team. It’s not often that you see that in college basketball at this level, so for me, I am just trying to cherish the opportunity given to me and play to the best of my abilities to help my team win.
Q: Do any of the older players give you advice or tips?
A: Many of the older players give me advice and tips, especially Tristan Carey and Stephen Shockley. Both of them have been here in the system for a while and know it pretty well, so they just tell me to look for certain things that they have learned over time to help me mature faster as a player.
Q: Which one of your teammate do you look up to most?
A: I look up to Tristan Carey the most, he’s the captain and we just really click on and off the court. He is always looking out for what’s best for me and even picking me up sometimes after things don’t quite go my way or as I had planned in a game.
Q: Who is your role model (athletic or not)?
A: My role model is my mother, she is the reason that I love the game of basketball as I do and she is also the reason I am able to do the things I do on the court. She taught me everything I know and is still teaching me today.
Q: Why did you choose Longwood?
A: I chose Longwood so I would not be just another player on a team or another number in a school. I wanted to be somewhere that I could help and impact immediately. I also chose Longwood because of the location. My mom, grandma and sister can get to see me play every game, and having that support behind me every time I step on the court means a lot and helps out a great deal.
Q: What has been your favorite basketball moment so far this season?
A: My favorite basketball moment thus far this year was the home opener we had in Willett Hall against Norfolk State. Just the atmosphere was fun and exciting to play in, and even though we did not win the game itself, it being my first college game was something to remember!
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?
A: Before every game, I actually eat candy and a lot of it, most of the time Reese Big Cups and some type of gummy candy. I also pray, and right before stepping on the court for jump ball, I make sure that I high-five everyone on the bench from the trainers to coaches to let everyone know that we’re a team and that we need everyone in order to win.
Q: What is your favorite professional sports team?
A: My favorite professional sports team is the Oklahoma City Thunder, because of my favorite player, Russell Westbrook.
Q: Have you had the chance to get involved in any other activities on campus?
A: Being so busy with basketball, I have not been able to get involved in much on campus, but anytime I get a chance to go hear someone speak on campus at a special event, I always do my best to attend.
Q: What career do you hope to pursue following your time at Longwood?
A: After my career at Longwood, I hope to continue playing basketball somewhere professionally. Once my playing days are over and done with, I hope to come back to the college ranks and begin coaching.
Q: If you could give a piece of advice to a young, aspiring player, what would it be?
A: My advice to a young aspiring player would be to never run away from fear, or uncertainty, but to believe in your abilities no matter where you are or the circumstance that you are in, and also to never get too high or too low, but to treat the good games and the bad games the same.
