Lee Brown, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard who was named to the All-Tournament team at the 1996 National Junior College Athletic Association basketball tournament, has signed to play at George Mason University. Brown led Kiswaukee College of Malta, Illinois to a 35-2 record and national runnerup honors.
Brown comes from a program that has averaged more than 100 points per game over the last five seasons, so he will fit right in with Coach Paul Westhead's speed game at George Mason. The Patriots hit a high of 148 points last season, averaging 90.5 points per game. Kiswaukee set a NJCAA record in a 173-124 victory over Black Hawk East and averaged 104.9 points per game in 1995-96. Westhead, of course, is best known for coaching the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1980 National Basketball Association title and his high-scoring NCAA Division I teams at Loyola Marymount College.
"Lee was the class of the NJCAA tournament, so we are extremely happy he chose George Mason." Coach Westhead said. "It should be a good match since he is no stranger to our fast-paced style of play." Brown will have three seasons of eligibility at George Mason.
Coach Greg Gregg Gierke of Kiswaukee described Brown as an outstanding player and person "who was the hardest worker I've had in 11 years". Brown was the captain of the Kougars and played in all 37 games, averaging 13.7 points and 5.8 assists per game. He really hit his stride in the national tournament. Brown scored 31 points and handed out a NJCAA record 15 assists in Kiswaukee's 107-93 quarterfinal victory over Catonsville, MD. He had 22 points and 11 assist in a 79-77 semifinal victory over John Wood of Illinois and 22 points and eight assists in a 93-88 loss to Penn Valley, Missouri in the title game.
Brown is a product of Dundee Crown High School in Carpentersville, Illinois where he averaged 19.5 points and five assists on a team that went 21-7 in 1994-95. He was the team's most valuable player and was named All-Fox Valley Conference and All-Area Chicago. At Kiswaukee, Brown was named his team's most valuable player and was selected All-Tournament Region IV. Brown is the second George Mason recruit for 1996-97. Avery Carey, a 6-5 wing player from Hagerstown Junior College, signed last fall. Carey averaged 14 points and six rebounds as Hagerstown went 25-5 in 1995-96.