Brown brings scoring punch to GCU

Before he even boarded his flight for Phoenix, Isiah Brown felt like Grand Canyon was going to be his next campus home.

The 6-foot-2 combo guard confirmed upon arrival that he would fit on the GCU campus and with Lopes players and coaches. Even without meeting them, the Northwestern transfer already senses a connection with the Havocs student section.

"We're going to have a good relationship," Brown said. "I can't wait to meet them. I've heard great things, seen great things. Best fans in America, in my opinion."

GCU's second roster addition of the week from the Big Ten, following Illinois transfer Michael Finke, will have to sit out a year for transfer rules but the Havocs still get two seasons to watch Brown play at GCU Arena.

That could be a treat. Brown is a former three-star recruit and Gatorade Washington Player of the Year who averaged 34 points per game for Seattle Lakeside High School and set his conference's career scoring record. He played 50 games at Northwestern, averaging 6.3 points in 14.8 minutes per game as a freshman and 3.9 points in 10.8 minutes per game as a sophomore.

"I'm a confident guy," Brown said. "I like to have fun. I like to put on a show."

Brown visited Montana this month before choosing GCU, when he committed and signed on the first day of his visit because "he felt at home."

Although his sophomore year started with an injury and ended with reduced playing time, Brown showed improvement. His mid-range shooting went from 26 percent to 49 percent and the Wildcats had their best field goal percentage with their backup point guard on the floor. Northwestern coach Chris Collins called him "a terrific representative" of the program in a statement.

"He can play the 1 (point guard) and the 2 (shooting guard) and can really score the basketball," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "Everything I talk about with him is that he can really score and that's something we always want. His versatility to play the 1 or the 2 is a big deal. From everything I've heard, he's a gym rat who wants to get better, loves to get better. Our player development will get the best out of him."

Brown can pair on the upcoming year's scout team with guard Carlos Johnson, who also is sitting out the 2018-19 season after transferring from Washington. Brown knows Johnson from playing summer pickup games at Washington, located in Brown's hometown. Johnson also will have two years to play for GCU.

"He's a pitbull," Brown said of Johnson. "He's going to play hard. He's physical. He's athletic. He gets to the rim. He can guard three different positions. He's going to be an incredibly versatile. I'm looking forward to creating that bond with him and trying to be a really tough backcourt for everybody."

Brown enjoyed the sunshine change from Evanston, Ill., but was more enamored with the Lopes program's goals and how every level of the university is dedicated to reaching them.

He expects that the year off and his work ethic will allow him to take his body and game to higher levels.

"From an offensive standpoint, I try to put pressure on the defense in any way possible," Brown said. "I'll be a guy who creates opportunities for myself and teammates. Create space for shooters, get to the rim, get fouls, shoot free throws, try to score from all three levels and just be a playmaker. Be an extension of Coach Majerle, try to lead the guys and defensively try to be a pest to lead at both ends."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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