Boys Basketball: Elgin’s Kory Brown picks North Dakota State
By Erik Jacobsen ejacobsen@stmedianetwork.com May 13, 2012 2:14AM
Elgin's Kory Brown committed to play Division I college basketball at North Dakota State on Saturday. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: June 15, 2012 8:11AM
Elgin High standout Kory Brown solidified his future plans Saturday when he committed to play college basketball at Division I North Dakota State.
Brown, the two-time reigning Courier-News Player of the Year, helped guide the Maroons to back-to-back regional and Upstate Eight River titles the past two seasons. He averaged 17.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 2.2 steals per game as a senior.
The 6-foot-4 forward will join a Bison squad that finished 17-13 last season under fifth-year coach Saul Phillips. North Dakota State is located in Fargo, N.D., and competes in the Summit League.
“North Dakota State made me feel at home,” said Brown, who visited the school during the first weekend in May. “It feels like more of a city-like place to be. It’s very lively there and there were some great people there.”
Despite all of his accomplishments at the high school level, Brown attracted only limited attention from Division I schools. North Dakota State was one of the first programs to heavily recruit the three-year varsity standout.
Brown chose North Dakota State over Western Illinois. Eastern Kentucky, Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota State were among the other schools to jump in the fray late and offer scholarships.
“As soon as I decided it took a big weight off my shoulders,” Brown said.
Added Elgin coach Mike Sitter: “I think at any of those schools Kory could walk in the first day and contribute immediately, especially on the defensive end. I had an interview (Sunday) with a TV station in Fargo, and I told them I’ve never seen North Dakota State play, but I’m pretty sure Kory Brown can walk in and be the best defender on that team from Day 1.”
Brown said he plans to sign with North Dakota State some time this week. He will likely head to Fargo in late June for summer school and to begin working out with his new team.
Brown finished with 1,289 points during high school at Elgin, which marks the fifth highest career total in the storied program’s history. Expectations are high for Brown among those who watched his progress the past few years as he brings his hard-working attitude and team-first approach to a new setting.
“The sky is the limit for Kory,” Sitter said. “With his body type he can do so many different things in college. He’s gotten better every single year he has played basketball in his life, and if that trend continues he’s going to get better the next four years and he’s going to be a dominant player at that next level.”
