Meet Hurricane Freshman Maria Brown

Sept. 28, 2010

CORAL GABLES, Fla. –

Maria Brown, a Louisiana native, is the third of four Hurricane freshmen to take time to sit down with HurricaneSports.com and tell ‘Canes fans what it has been like to be a new face in a new place and what expectations she has for herself and the Hurricane women’s basketball team this season.

What made you choose the University of Miami?

I chose the University of Miami because it is a beautiful campus in Coral Gables, a really nice, safe and quiet community. The student body is very culturally diverse at the “U”, which is great. It is awesome to be in class with people from not just all over the country, but from all over the world! I fell in love with the “U” on my visit, I just love all of my teammates and I have great coaches.  The wonderful personalities of my coaches and teammates make it worth all the hard work we put in everyday. 

What are some of the goals that you have for yourself and for the team this season?

Personally, I want to help the team become a national success. I want to do whatever Coach Meier and the staff asks of me and on a real personal level I would like to be on the All-ACC Freshman Team.

For the team, this year we have to make the NCAA Tournament, which is our ultimate goal. I also want to see us finish in the top half of the ACC and definitely beat FSU!

You spent six weeks of your summer on-campus taking classes and working out. What did you learn during that time about being a student-athlete at the “U”?

I don’t want to repeat what my other teammates said, but they were right, time management is key! You have to understand things aren’t easy like in high school and you can’t just expect to be good, you have to put in the work. You need to budget time for everything.  I mean, time to sleep, time to eat, time to study, meet with tutors, meet with your athletic advisors, watch film, weights; you need to make sure you budget time and use your free time in the best way possible.

Of the veterans on the team, who do you look up to the most and why?

I look up to my ‘Mama’, Shawnice Wilson, aka Pepper. Pepper is wise, she has motherly qualities, while still being a peer. She is someone I can always go to on and off the court about anything.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that the public does not know…

This may sound really strange, but, I don’t have a belly button.

Who is the best dancer/singer on the team…the funniest…the loudest?

Dancer:  I am!

Singer: Morgan Stroman

Funniest: Pepper (Shawnice Wilson)

Loudest: Selina Archer

Have you seen any celebrities since being in Miami?

Yes, who haven’t I seen! I have seen Michael Jordan, Shakira, Pitbull, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Floyd Mayweather and Alonzo Mourning! The majority of these people I saw at the Alonzo Mourning Charity Basketball weekend. Just a hint if you are looking to see celebs!

Now that you have been a Miami resident for a few weeks, what advice would you give LeBron James and Chris Bosh?

I have learned that the weather in Miami is funny, it can be sunny and gorgeous one minute and the next, a downpour. You should ALWAYS keep an umbrella on you. You never know when it’s going to rain!

 What does it mean to you to be a Miami Hurricane?

To be a Miami Hurricane means taking pride in yourself and taking pride in the fact that you wear the “U” and you represent it. The “U” is big-time, it is a prestigious university and you have to represent that at all times, you can never forget how lucky you are to have been chosen to be a student-athlete here. You have to make sure you take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.