John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
Another Cowboy of Madison County is preparing to suit up once more, and this time, it's an adventure outside of the United States that he won't soon forget.
Christopher Brown, 27, now living in Atlanta, is packing to leave to Jerez, Spain, where he will spend nine months as a Liga EBA basketball player for Basketball Xerez CD. International sports site www.cadenaser.com says that with the signing of Brown, the Xerecista Club enhances the creative game of Xerez B, and strengthening the different teams with players who can serve as a mirror for those who see Basketball Xerez CD as a springboard from which to develop and continue their growth.
Brown's excursion to Spain, beginning Monday, Sept. 28, won't be the first time he's traveled abroad for the game. In February of 2020, Brown was a participant in the Visor Tournament for Cibapac as a member of Club Mineros Cananea Basketball, in Mexico. "It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life," said Brown. "I signed over 500 autographs, took over 500 pictures … It was amazing."
Brown signed his contract in July, giving him enough time to celebrate his second wedding anniversary to Adrieana Brown and enjoy a little bit more of the American life before packing. This all comes after sending an athletics resume to teams and being contacted just days later. "I genuinely believe it was just God," Brown added. "Going to Mexico, I didn't have any second thoughts. Going to Spain, it scared me because I'll be gone for nine months and I'm married."
With an extensive background playing basketball in high school and college, Brown believes this could be his stepping stone to going pro in his homeland. "It was so hard for me to own it. If I can go to college, if I can go pro overseas, why limit myself now?"
The son of Lisa West, Brown was born in Valdosta and calls his upbringing very challenging as he moved numerous times, even to Suwannee County, before moving to Madison County in sixth grade. And while he was born north of the Florida state border, he claims the rolling hills of Madison County. "Georgia made me, but Madison raised me," said Brown. "Everything that I've learned about life was in Madison."
Contrary to his passion today, Brown was a football star until the seventh grade, when a man by the name of Archie Wilson urged the young Brown to try out for the Madison County Central School basketball team. He didn't make the cut, but that didn't mean it wasn't in God's plan. "For some reason, I fell in love with the sport so that summer, I just worked on my lay-ups," Brown continued, adding that he made the team one year later. "I sucked at basketball. I was garbage. I wasn't decent until 11th grade."
During his junior and senior years combined, Brown played a total of 40 games for the Madison County High School varsity basketball team. He averaged 8.6 PPG his senior year with a 53 percent field goal shooting average and 61 percent free-throw average.
After the end of his high school career in 2011, Brown found himself at Webber International University, in Polk County, Fla., where he tried out and successfully made the team with a friend in 2013. But his mark at Webber University was short, mainly due to bad habits he grew into during the summer, he recalls. "Just because of my actions, simply," Brown said.
In 2015, Brown had the opportunity to play for Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a member of the Men's Mustangs basketball team. During the 2016-2017 season, Brown racked a 50 percent field goal shooting average with a 42.9 percent free-throw average before concluding life on the college court.
Taking into consideration his current situation, Brown was asked what he would tell himself 10 years ago at the age of 17. "I would say 'Chris, get in shape and stay in shape. Regardless of what anyone tells you, you can make it and you will make it, but you must be consistent and stick to it,'" he replied. "'You cannot give up.'"
He also tells any young athlete to continue fighting for the love of the game. "You have to be all in or all out."
Brown is the brother of Christian Brown, an offensive linebacker for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Cameron Brown, a pursuer of olympic weightlifting; and Crystal Ford.