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Four-star Class of 2016 guard Bruce Brown gave up football to focus on basketball

Bruce Brown

(Scott Phillips/NBCSports.com)

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- Before focusing on a promising basketball future, Class of 2016 guard Bruce Brown was a two-sport athlete.

Besides hooping, the 6-foot-3 power guard was a football player. Brown played wide receiver at his old high school, Wakefield High (Massachusetts), as a sophomore until he transferred to Vermont Academy.

Brown was a standout wide receiver and hated giving up the game, but he’s now thriving on the basketball court.

“I love playing football; I was a wide receiver,” Brown told NBCSports.com. “I stopped playing because my [new school] doesn’t have it, but I think it helps me [on the basketball court].”

The loss of football not only affected Brown, but it also hurt his brother. "[He] loved when I played football. So it was kind of hard,” Brown added.

Playing football helped give Brown a certain toughness that he now carries over into basketball. Although Brown twisted his left ankle twice in the two weeks leading up to the July live evaluation period, he still played on it and thrived enough to earn multiple scholarship offers.

“It’s been tough because I did it twice in two weeks. So I try to ice every day and make sure to keep it ready to play,” Brown said.

After a strong spring and start to July, Brown appears to have made the correct decision in sticking with basketball. He’s currently regarded as the No. 53 overall prospect in Rivals’ Class of 2016 rankings, and Brown helped lead BABC to the Peach Jam.

Brown told NBCSports.com that Michigan, Minnesota, VCU, Wake Forest and Xavier have all offered scholarships while Providence, Virginia Tech and Arizona State have offered in recent days. The guard averaged 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 21 EYBL contests this season.

The recruiting process is still early for Brown, but he wants to play for a school that runs an offense that fits him.

“Just the style of offense. I like to score so that’s something I’ll look at,” Brown said of factors in his decision. “Whatever the coach needs me to do, I’ll do it.”

Brown also has one visit lined up for the month of August and it’s a school that recently offered.

“I think I’m going to visit Providence sometime in August,” Brown said.

With some strong play in the EYBL this season, Brown will be a guard to track next spring and summer when his recruiting really heats up. The Class of 2016 has a lot of good guards and Brown will have a chance to make his case with two more seasons of high school basketball.

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