Plans can change.

The changes can move us in a different direction, even if that requires traveling far from home. This is the case for Waynesburg men’s basketball player, Carlton Brown.

The west coast is home to the junior guard from Riverside, California. Brown played basketball at Riverside Polytechnic High School, the same high school of former NBA player Reggie Miller. During his time with the Bears, Brown was a three-year Scholar-Athlete award winner, and was captain of his team for two years. 

For his freshman year of college, Brown attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. He played basketball for the Lutes in the 2018-19 season, averaging 5.6 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game, while appearing in 24 games.

When his sophomore year came around, Brown decided to transfer to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

“I transferred because I wanted to be closer to home,” Brown said. 

Waynesburg men’s head basketball coach Tim Fusina was coaching at Cal Lutheran at that time, and this was a big reason why Brown decided to transfer and play for the Kingsmen.

“[Fusina] is super passionate about the game,” Brown said, “you can just tell that he really cares about the guys and the game.”

Brown was also supposed to room with Waynesburg forward Isaiah Alonzo at Cal Lutheran. 

About a month before Brown arrived, however, Fusina had taken the job here at Waynesburg University, and Alonzo decided to follow Fusina to southwestern Pennsylvania. Brown’s sophomore year ended, and the thought of following Fusina was brewing in his mind.

“I talked to Coach Uhl originally and then coach Fusina,” Brown said. “I ended up just deciding that I was just going to give it a third shot, follow the coaches because I had a really good relationship with them.”

For taking a chance at a cross-country journey, everything has worked out so far for Brown. 

“I’ve had a better time in the first month here than I’ve had at my past two schools,” Brown said, “I’m really comfortable and I’m glad that I made the decision to come out here.” 

Fusina says that he really admires Brown on and off the floor.

“He’s a really smart, nice kid,” said Fusina. “when I talk to him on the phone or he comes into the office, I really like our conversations.”

And plenty of phone calls the coach and player have had, displaying the strength of their relationship. 

“He would call me probably every other week if not every week during the summer,” Brown said.

As far as basketball goes, Fusina believes that Brown can be a standout player in the league.

“On the court, he guards the ball extremely well,” Fusina said. “He can handle it really well. I think he will be a very good player in the PAC.” 

Brown is one of many players on a long list of recruits for the Jackets this year. As a junior, he is among the older players on a relatively young team.

“I think I bring a sense of leadership,” Brown said, “but just playing for two years already, you just pick up on things.”

For both Brown and Fusina, their thoughts on the upcoming basketball season were one in the same: they just want to play. And Fusina is really looking forward to putting his recruited talent into action.

“I think [Brown] has the capability to be one of the best defenders in the league and one of the best ball handlers,” Fusina said. “But above all, he’s a great kid from a great family, and we enjoy having him.”