Heading into her senior year and ready to pursue another trip to Austin, Len'Nique Brown still has some pressing concerns on her mind. Brown has the great dilemma of choosing a school that will pay for her education and allow her to continue to play basketball beyond high school. The process has reportedly been trying. Some of the leading candidates are rumored to be:
USC- Brown spent this past weekend in beautiful Southern California at an official visit with USC, the new kid on the block. The campus is a city within a huge city and recently pulled out all stops and jumped on Brown. The daughter of California Governor and action star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, attends the sprawling school which highlights the prominence of the school among the states elite. The school is in a BCS conference, a conference that has 3 teams in the Top 25 preseason polls. The new coach has never coached college basketball but has won NBA titles as a player and won a WNBA title as a coach. Michael Cooper reportedly followed up his two hour phone call to Niques' father on Thursday night with a Letter of Intent on Friday. The PAC-10, Michael Cooper and alumni base that rivals any is tough to turn down. Will she sign it?
San Diego St.- Another California school that Brown visited a month or so ago. The Aztecs just came off of a great season and the current coach has been there for years. The program is stable and nationally respected by the sports writers who gave them 78 votes in the preseason rankings. There uptempo style, near perfect weather, and coaching stability may be hard for Brown to turn down. The schools reputation as a party school will probably not deter Brown due to her focus on her basketball career. The Aztecs have also sent a letter of intent last Friday. A hint may have been what her last club coach was wearing in the gym during high school scrimmages this past weekend; a San Diego St. T-Shirt compliments of the Brown family.
Michigan St.- The Spartans are another team that is heavy in the mix for Brown. Nique and her father reportedly loved the trip to Michigan last month. Despite the freezing temperatures, the Big 1o may be the right climate for Nique. The Spartans reached the Sweet 16 last year despite a coaching staff that is relatively new. Rumor has it that Wagner Coach Christina Camacho has some friendly ties to Michigan State in some way. Michigan St. is another school that has already sent a letter of intent to be signed.
Long Shots:
UTSA- While the thought of Nique playing in a four guard offense with Judy Jones, Amber Gregg, and Whitney York is tantalizing, it probably will not happen. Though, the open offense featuring frequent pick and rolls and dribble drive actions would suit the lightning quick Brown to a T, it would be a major surprise if she stayed home to suit up for the Runners. Reportedly, the Runners have not been ruled out and an offer is on the table.
SMU- After showing out in a fall exposure event in Dallas in front of dozens of college suitors, the Browns took an unofficial to SMU before returning to SA. The campus, scenery and academic reputation of the school are pluses but they most likely will not get Brown. This school may take it the hardest if they are not chosen due to their constant pursuit of Brown for years. They apparently offered a long time before others and are asking Santa for an early Christmas gift in the form of a signed letter of intent. The problem is that Santa does not deliver in November. I think?
My prediction is... Hector! although Montezuma battles!
