09-10 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Sports always in season for Brown

Published 4:00 pm Monday, August 30, 2010

SHORELINE

Ask Jordan Brown what his favorite sport is and today he’ll tell you it’s football.

Ask him in a few months and he’ll say basketball and next spring his reply will be track.

When it comes down to it the Shorecrest senior, a three-sport athlete, can’t really say he has a favorite sport.

“Every season is the new favorite sport,” he said.

Brown currently is gearing up for football, where he’ll play a key role in the Scots’ offense as its top returning running back. He rushed for more than 500 yards as a junior. On defense, Brown likely will be switching from cornerback to safety.

“It should be fun,” Brown said. “I’ve played it in the past, but now I’m coming back to it.”

The offseason focus was on improving his blocking and defensive footwork.

“Last year I kind of lacked in those areas,” Brown said.

What he doesn’t lack is speed, which Browns considers to be his biggest strength.

“We’re smaller than usual,” Brown said. “Speed is going to help us out a lot.”

The same could be said of the Scots’ basketball team, which just missed out on advancing to the state tournament last year. Shorecrest appears to have picked up right where it left off this summer. The Scots had successful performances at a number of summer tournaments.

“I’m looking forward to the season,” Brown said. “We’re a lot better. We’re a small, fast team.”

As a result, Brown likely will play a number of different roles from guard to center.

While Brown is a key player on both the football and basketball teams, where he’s really excelled is in track, specifically the long jump.

At last year’s Class 3A track and field championships, Brown finished fifth in the long jump.

“I’m trying to work on that to hopefully place higher,” Brown said.

The two key attributes that successful long jumper possess are athleticism and form, according to Brown. While he has the former, Brown said he is still working on the latter.

Brown started long jumping in the eighth grade and he was as surprised as anyone that he was a natural in the event.

“I didn’t know I was going to be good at it,” he said. “I just did it and it turned out well.”

Brown also runs the relays and also competes in the high jump.

There was a time when Brown thought about giving up one of the sports, but conversations with some people convinced otherwise.

“I had a lot of parents telling me about their experiences and that they wished they played all their sports,” Brown said. “Once you heard what they said and what they wished they had done, I thought I might as well stick it out.”

Staying in shape for all three sports actually is the easy part.

“It’s not too bad once you get used to the work,” Brown said. “It’s hard not to stay in shape. It’s just get out with friends and do what you’re planning to do.”

While sports are a major part of his life, Brown will view his senior year as a success if he finishes strong academically.

“It’s all about the grades,” he said. “If I get all A’s and a couple of B’s, I’ll be satisfied.”