PonyPride.com - FREE: Brown's Dad Talks SMU Commitment

October 15, 2012

Sam Erwin
PonyPride.com Managing Editor

Word came down on Monday morning that SMU had picked up their first big commitment of the 2013 class in Chicago point guard Sterling Brown. In reality, however, it appears that the commitment happened Sunday before Brown even left the Hilltop.

"The decision came yesterday," explained Sterlings father, Chris Brown.  "My son liked everything about SMU from the entire coaching staff, to the campus which was beautiful and the fact that he has family down in Dallas. He just fell in love with the idea that he was going to help them build their program. That was the most intriguing things about it."

The elder Brown made the trip to Dallas with his son this past weekend for an official visit and he was very happy with what he saw as well.

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"It is an awesome campus, just the beauty and history of it were amazing. As a parent I am elated that he picked SMU. Now I can kill two birds with one stone when I come visit family and can watch my son play."

While on campus Chris Browns says that Larry Brown was very honest with the family and made no promises about the future and his son respected that a lot.

"If he goes in and does what he is suppose to do they said he will play but they wouldn't make any promises. How honest they were in this whole process was very nice to see, especially for me.

"He told my son that no matter where he goes he will probably play and probably get a good education so it was just a matter of where he wanted to go play and my son said 'where do I sign?'." 

One of the interesting things about Sterling and the rest of the Brown family is how many connection they have not only to head coach Larry Brown but to the rest of the staff as well. A big part of that is due to Sterlings brother, Shannon Brown who currently plays for the L.A. Lakers.

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"My other son played for coach Brown when he was in Charlotte and he went to Michigan State like Eric Snow. Then he played with Eric in Cleveland with Lebron [James]. So like I said, he liked the complete coaching staff and already had good relationships with coach Brown and Eric Snow."

Along with that relationship that the family had with coach Brown and Eric Snow they were also intrigued by the resume of the Mustangs new head coach.

"When you have a coach who has won a NCAA National Championship and an NBA Championship and is the only one to do that you take note of it. He has accomplished all of his goals so it is an intriguing opportunity to be able to play for him."

Now that he is on board the focus for Sterling now turns to trying to help SMU build their 2013 class. The most obvious player Brown could help with is fellow Chicago player Ben Moore and the elder Brown said that his son will do what he can to help.

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"It is totally on Sterling to find out which players are interested in SMU and which players SMU is interested in and find out how he can help and who he has influence over. I think that goes hand in hand when trying to build a program. I think that Sterling is the type of kid who will reach out to his friends."

Brown is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard at Maywood (Ill.) Proviso East and the No. 130 player in the class of 2013 according to Rivals.com.