The racist bad guy walks away with a ton of money …
May 8, 2014
Vandebilt falls in Class 4A State Title Game
May 8, 2014
For the past several seasons, Houma native and Central Catholic standout guard Randi Brown solidified herself as one of the best prep players in Louisiana.
Now finished as a Lady Eagle, and with a Class 1A State Championship ring on her finger, Brown is ready to make a trek to the Big Easy and start her career as a Privateer.
Brown signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of New Orleans this week – just a month after helping lead the Lady Eagles to a state championship in her senior season.
Brown chose UNO over a handful of offers from schools around the Southeast. She earned her place at the next level after averaging 24.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game her final season with the Morgan City-based private school.
“It feels great,” Brown said just hours after signing her scholarship. “I’m really looking forward to the whole experience, and I also get a chance to stay close to friends and family, so they can come and see me play at the next level.”
For Brown, the decision to sign with the Privateers was one she made after visiting the school and touring UNO’s facilities.
The Central Catholic standout said that during her official visit, both she and her family felt at home. From there, Brown decided to pull the trigger and commit to UNO’s coaches in mid-April. She stayed true to her promise this week and faxed her scholarship to the program, capping her multi-year recruiting process.
“When I took my visit there, everything was right,” Brown said. “From the coaches to the players and the professors that I met, everyone was welcoming and treated me like family.”
So with her scholarship in UNO’s hands, Brown is now focusing her attention on her future with the Privateers.
Unlike Central Catholic, which is a traditional powerhouse, UNO is a program in transition. The Privateers are still rebuilding their team after jumping from Division III athletics back to Division I.
UNO finished last season winless in 29 games, including an 0-18 record in Southland Conference play. Most of the team’s losses were lopsided, decided by 20, 30 or even 40-plus points.
Brown said she knows that playing at UNO won’t be too similar to Central Catholic early-on, because the team will be a decisive underdog in most of its games.
But she said that she didn’t let last year’s struggles for UNO poison her opinion about the program.
“I don’t think (being an underdog) will be different,” Brown said. “Underdog or not, I’ll still be playing the same game. The only thing that will change is the name on my jersey and the amount of work I put in. By that, I mean that I plan on increasing how much I work on my game at the next level.”
Brown said she talked to Privateers coach Keeshawn Davenport during her recruitment and feels confident in her ability to find a role within the team.
She said that Davenport liked the things that she did at Central Catholic. Who wouldn’t? Brown and the Lady Eagles were arguably one of the top teams in Louisiana. Brown was also the MVP of the Class 1A State Championship Game.
“I think they liked my leadership ability and my ability to stay calm in any situation on the floor,” Brown said.
But while Brown and her family rejoice her decision to play at UNO, some basketball fans around the state have wondered why other, more prestigious programs around the country weren’t hungry for Brown’s services.
Teammate Meo Knight signed a National Letter of Intent with Alabama last fall, choosing the Tide over a slew of offers around the country.
But Brown didn’t get much interest from larger schools, despite having similar stats to her Alabama-bound teammate in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game.
The future UNO guard said she’s been asked about her lack of premier offers by her peers, but added that the entire process played out the way that is should.
She said she doesn’t feel slighted or disrespected by anyone.
“Honestly, I really don’t (feel disrespected),” Brown said. “I think everything that I went through throughout the recruiting season was just a test from God, and I knew where I ended up would be because of him.”
Through that faith, Brown is now a Privateer and a future biology major who plans to become a pediatrician.
On the floor, Brown said she can’t wait to wear her blue and white for the first time, adding that it will be different, but unique to play for a new team.
She said that she loves being close to home, adding that several Southland Conference rivals are in the area, as well.
“I think it will be fun to play with new people and coaches,” Brown said. “Because I’m so close, I’m sure I’ll still see the same faces that would be at every home game at Central Catholic. So that’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Central Catholic standout guard Randi Brown (right) hugs teammate Meo Knight after winning the Class 1A State Championship earlier this spring. After a highly decorated prep career, Brown signed with UNO this week to continue playing at the college level.
