Almost Ready Rod
Rodgerick Brown is almost ready.
How can a young man who looks like he could lift a car be only “almost ready?”
Well, Wichita State wants the Class of 2018 wing forward in early. Like immediately (2017).
To make that happen Rod (PrepHoops.com #8) needed a heavy load of summer classes.
“My transcript has to be done by August 6th,” said Rodgerick Brown. “I had a whole month to knock out three classes. I am actually on a good pace, so I really should be done by August 6th. If my transcript comes in I would move in August 16th.”
Just like he tends to do on the court, Brown is making something difficult look disturbingly easy. He is conquering senior-level classes while competing on the UAA circuit against hungry big men.
“It was very hard and very complicated,” said Brown. “I finally made it through. I actually did a pretty good job, within a month. Like in a month. I had to knock out English 12 class. I had to do Econ and Government and right now I am currently knocking out Pre-Calculus Honors class. So it was pretty tough for me doing it, but I am on the right track and I am on my own pace.”
There are still online classes to complete and the deadline is looming just two weeks away. Count on Rodgerick getting the work done.
“Schoolwork always comes first to me,” said Rodgerick Brown. “It has always been my main goal. I had to get my mind right to understand that if I don’t take care of my schoolwork I am not going to play. My parents stayed on me about schoolwork. Schoolwork is going to take me a long way. Just in case I don’t make it to the NBA I would love to take care of my work and get a diploma and a degree, so I can get a job. A good job to provide for myself.”
Cordova High School will miss Rodgerick Brown and Brown’s father confirmed that Rod would play for Tennessee Prep this fall if he doesn’t complete the classes in time. This confirmation occurred before July and his completion looks more and more likely.
Either way Cordova HS is in his past.
“I will be majoring in Business Management,” said Rodgerick Brown. “Basically I would like to do Stock Marketing. I am very good with numbers. I would like to major in Business Management.”
Redshirt?
Entering college a year early is tough academically and Rodgerick Brown will endure some bumps there. Most people do and they don’t have the hours of athletic involvement D1 athletes endure.
Though he has decided upon a major, it remains to be seen if Rodgerick will suit up and play in 2017-2018 for the Wichita State Shockers.
He and his father are considering taking a redshirt year. WSU is aware and supportive.
“They say it was my decision,” said Rodgerick Brown. “They want to see how it goes during practice, see how hard I work. (They want) to see if my skills mesh with what they are looking for and then I can come in and help them. The game pace and game speed with be very fast. I think I can do very good. Basically I was thinking about redshirting my first year so I could get bigger and stronger as far as my skillset being able to play against other guys my size.”
Adapting to speed of play is often the hardest task for incoming freshmen. Brown is a startlingly physical player and Team Thad is one of the quickest outfits on the UAA-circuit. Maybe he will adjust quickly to the speed and strength.
Most players are in a hurry to get to, or try to get to the NBA. Rodgerick’s end goal is no different. He may want to play right away to expedite this process. It seems likely he will feel engaged and eager to compete with the teammates from day one. Will that impact his choice?
From a school’s perspective having Roderick lift and train for a year wouldn’t hurt at all. In fact, college freshmen used to have to attend school for a year before playing at all. Lew Alcindor was widely-heralded as a game-changing recruit for UCLA, but he was disallowed from playing until he reached sophomore status. All freshmen were essentially “redshirted” back then. It was viewed as beneficial for their emotional and physical development.
Will Rodgerick Brown redshirt?
Nobody knows until he gets on campus and gets some runs in.
The next big question Wichita State fans have is…Tyler Harris (2018).
Tyler Harris
Wichita State has been on Cordova and Team Thad 17u point guard Tyler Harris for quite awhile.
The conventional fan thinking around Wichita is…’Rodgerick is great, but we sure would love to get Tyler Harris too.’
Can they?
“Tyler has been my boy for a long time now, ever since my tenth grade year,” said Rodgerick Brown. “We have played together for two and a half years, but it feels like I have been playing with him forever. A good player. Still getting better. I am very good playing with him. He has an excellent I.Q. for the game and I just love playing with him.”
A diplomatic Brown continued.
“Wichita State had offered him already. It would be great to play with Tyler again at the next level after I did in high school.”
There is no chance Tyler Harris would reclass, so WSU and Brown have another few months to encourage Harris. Regardless the Shockers are getting a fantastic young man capable of defending the 2, 3, or 4. He rebounds at an elite level and can score underneath the tin or off the dribble. Nobody works harder. Brown’s projected floor is a American Athletic Conference role player. Ceiling? TBD.
Rodgerick Brown is almost ready.