Fast Breaks with Bruce Brown

BRUCE BROWN

Bruce Brown
Hometown: Boston, Mass. 

My hometown is Boston. It is where I was raised and where I learned to play the game of basketball. It is where I learned just to be myself.

My family is everything. They made what I am today, and in the future they are going to be there by my side. I can always count on them.

I started playing basketball when I was six, in the league called No Books, No Ball. My uncle Tony taught me the fundamentals of the game: how to pass, shoot and dribble.

I went to high school at Vermont Academy, and at Wakefield Memorial High School. I went to public school, a private school and boarding school. I miss both of them. I wish I could go back, but not right now.

When I was younger I wanted to be a police officer because I always saw them on the corner and I thought it was cool to go fast in the car with the lights on and people move out of the way.

The hardest part of being away from home are the home-cooked meals. My mom is a really good cook so I really miss her food. A lot.

Playing basketball has given me opportunities I never thought I would get. Coming to a college for free, going to boarding school for free and seeing the world. I’ve even travelled to Italy for basketball.

When I played basketball growing up I pretended to be like Rajon Rondo because he played for the Celtics. He was big at the time and I wanted to shoot like him so I used to shoot from the side of my head sometimes to be like him. He is also the reason why I wear a sleeve.

I am a Hurricane because honestly, it’s a great school. For my mom, she thought I would do well and for basketball it is The U. It is known everywhere.

For me being from Boston, The U is known for football, and they have won a lot of National Championships. We have a great football team and great talents.

The city of Coral Gables is a very nice city. It is quiet and has really nice homes and cars. It is a very chill place to be.

Playing for Coach L at Miami, I have learned to have fun on the court, play my game and know the numbers and strategies that the other team has. Coach L is very into numbers.

One thing everyone should know about UM hoops is that we are a family. We embrace everyone into our locker room. We have our own style among each other and our own way of doing and saying things.

To be a Miami Hurricane means a lot to me because they gave me the opportunity of being here for free and to play the sport I love.

I wear jersey number 11 because my aunt passed away in 2011. So it was either 20 or 11, because I can’t wear 2011, and my friend was wearing 20 in high school, so I just decided to wear 11. It is a great number. It just looks good.

Coach L is a great person to be around and a great person to learn from. He brings so much energy and passion to the game that it strives me to do better in everything I do.

My favorite thing about the U family is everyone is nice and everyone embraces you, and talks to you, and wants to get to know you.

I am closest on the team with the freshmen because we do everything together. We are always around each other and we have classes together.

Dunking feels great. It is an energy builder. The momentum comes on your side when you dunk the ball, especially on the fast break. It makes everyone scream and cheer and it just feels good. Everyone gets up and stands up. The crowd loves it.

If I wasn’t playing basketball I would be playing football. I was really good in high school and I would have pursued that for sure. I love football.

Some of my personal goals before the season were to average two steals per game and just play well. I want to help the team, to help them win. I also wanted to do well in academics and be more of a people person on campus. I want to talk to everyone and get to know the regular students here.

I never thought that I would be starting during my freshman year in college basketball. I also never thought that I would be on the All-ACC Academic Team.

I like to play 2K and other video games like FIFA and NHL. I like to walk around campus because it’s a beautiful view.

My favorite holiday is Christmas because when I was back home, I liked the white Christmas because it was snowing and it just felt like Christmas. And because we got sugar cookies. Sugar cookies are my favorite snack.

I had to learn to become a man at a young age. My mom had to tell me things, and I had to pick up things myself as I went on in my life. I also had to learn from my older brothers as well as my father, who helped me become a man by talking to him about the things he went through in his past, and how to handle that adversity. 

After college I want to play professionally in the United States, in the NBA, and hopefully that works out for me in the long run.