Quinnel Brown

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Quinnel Brown

| image = Quinnel Brown.png

| image_size = 220px

| caption = Brown against the Mississauga Power in 2015

| league = NBL Canada

| team = Windsor Express

| number = 15

| position = Forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 6

| weight_lb = 210

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|8|26}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois

| nationality = American

| high_school = Morgan Park (Chicago, Illinois)

| college =

Wabash Valley (2001–2003)
Auburn (2003–2005)

| draft_year = 2005

| career_start = 2005

| career_end =

| years1 = 2005

| team1 = KTP Palloilijat

| years2 = 2005–2006

| team2 = Sundsvall Dragons

| years3 = 2006–2007

| team3 = Twin City Ballers

| years4 = 2007–2008

| team4 = Detroit Panthers

| years5 = 2008

| team5 = Quad City Riverhawks

| years6 = 2008

| team6 = Gary Steelheads

| years7 = 2008–2009

| team7 = Kataja Basket

| years8 = 2010

| team8 = Fribourg Olympic

| years9 = 2010

| team9 = USA All-Stars

| years10 = 2011

| team10 = Québec Kebs

| years11 = 2011

| team11 = Edmonton Energy

| years12 = 2011–2012

| team12 = Cuxhaven BasCats

| years13 = {{nblcy|2011|end}}

| team13 = Québec Kebs

| years14 = {{nblcy|2012|start}}–{{nblcy|2012|end}}

| team14 = Halifax Rainmen

| years15 = {{nblcy|2013|start}}–{{nblcy|2014|end}}

| team15 = Windsor Express

| years16 = 2015–2016

| team16 = Larre Borges

| years17 = {{nblcy|2016|start}}–2017

| team17 = Windsor Express

| years18 = 2016–2017

| team18 = Gigantes de Guayana

| years19 = 2017–2018

| team19 = Salta Basket

| years20 = 2018–present

| team20 = Larre Borges

| highlights =

NBL of Canada All-Time Player List (2022)
NBL Canada Most Valuable Player ({{nblcy|2014|end}})
First-team All-NBL Canada ({{nblcy|2014|end}})
2× NBL Canada champion ({{nblcy|2013|end}}, {{nblcy|2014|end}})
All-NBL Canada Honourable Mention ({{nblcy|2013|end}})
Second-team All-NBL Canada ({{nblcy|2012|end}})
Swedish League All-Star (2006)

}}

Quinnel Levar Brown (born August 26, 1983) is an American professional basketball player for the Windsor Express of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL). He primarily plays the forward position, but has been known to even guard small forwards and shooting guards. Brown has experience in multiple minor league basketball leagues in North America and has also competed with several different teams around Europe. He also has played in Uruguay, Venezuela and Argentina.

Brown played multiple seasons in the NBL Canada for the Quebec Kebs, Halifax Rainmen, and Express. In the league, he has earned three All-League selections and the Most Valuable Player Award. Outside Canada, Brown has been named All-Star in the Swedish League and the International Basketball League (IBL).{{cite web|title=BROWN QUINNEL|url=http://sferasports.gr/en/player/237/brown-quinnel|website=SferaSports.gr|access-date=September 19, 2015}}

High school career

Brown played for Morgan Park High School in the Chicago Public League, starring for the team in his senior year as they won the Public League in 2001.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/03/25/year-of-shocks-and-basketball-feels-the-jolts/ |title=Year Of Shocks --and Basketball Feels The Jolts |last=Temkin |first=Barry |date=March 25, 2001 |website=ChicagoTribune.com |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

The same year, he led the Mustangs to the semifinals of the Illinois High School Association State Championship where they lost to Eddy Curry's Thornwood, with Brown making the All-Tournament team.{{cite web |url=http://www.ihsa.org/archive/bkb/mm/2001baa.htm |title=March Madness Record Book - 2001 Class AA Boys Summary |author= |website=IHSA.org |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

Brown, rated as the No. 1 unsigned prospect from the state, was also named to the Class AA All-State team by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the All-City team by the Public League coaches' association.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/03/17/wearin-o-the-green-for-morgan-park/ |title=Wearin' O' The Green --for Morgan Park |last=Sakamoto |first=Bob |date=March 17, 2001 |website=ChicagoTribune.com |location=Peoria |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

College career

Brown played for Wabash Valley College (Mount Carmel, Illinois) in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference (Region 24) of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I from 2001 to 2003.

He averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds per game in his freshman season as Wabash finished fourth in the 2002 NJCAA tournament played in Hutchinson, Kansas.

As a sophomore, he received All-Conference and All-Regional Tournament honours, averaging 16 points (on 76% FGA) and 8 rebounds per game to help Wabash to a 22–10 record and a Regional runner-up finish, scoring 11 points as they conceded the Region 24 title to Southeastern Illinois.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/04-05-tigers.pdf#page=2 |title=2004-05 Tigers - #21 Quinnel Brown |author= |publisher=Auburn Tigers |access-date=September 17, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://thesouthern.com/sports/after-slow-start-sic-rolls-to-region-crown/article_d58c38b3-0a45-5ea1-b5c8-062e22372dd5.html |title=After slow start, SIC rolls to Regio 24 crown |last=Webb |first=Steve |date=March 10, 2003 |website=theSouthern.com |location=Lebanon |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

On April 16, 2003, he signed a letter of intent for Auburn University after visiting their campus the same month, choosing the Tigers over offers from Creighton, Ball State and Arizona State.{{cite web |url=http://www.scout.com/college/auburn/story/105505-tigers-going-juco-route-with-spring-signees |title=Tigers Going Juco Route With Spring Signees |last=Murphy |first=Mark |date=April 16, 2003 |website=Scout.com |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

As a junior, he averaged 7.1 points and 3 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game as he started 16 of the 28 total games he and Auburn played in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) of the NCAA Division I, with a season-high 20 points in a game against Mississippi State.

He was named Outstanding Defensive Player of the year at the team's season-ending awards banquet.

The 6-foot-6 small forward was played as a nominal center during his senior year, starting each of the 31 games played by Auburn, for averages of 12.8 points and a team-high 6 rebounds (eleventh in the SEC) in 31.5 minutes per game.

He scored a career-high 23 points during a November 24 game against Nicholls State, posted a double-double of 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in a February 12 game against South Carolina, making 7 of his 12 field goal attempts (including both 3-point attempts) and all of his three foul-shots, had 21 points (on perfect 8-for-8 shooting) in addition to 8 rebounds and 2 steals against Arkansas on senior day.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05guide6.pdf |title=2004-05 Season Review |author= |publisher=Auburn Tigers |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

Brown scored 13 points before fouling out with five minutes left as Auburn downed Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2005 SEC tournament, however he only had 4 points and rebounds apiece (on 2-for-11 shooting, scoreless in 5 attempts from three) in 22 minutes against LSU the next round as Auburn lost 89–58 to end his college career.{{cite web |url=http://www.scout.com/college/auburn/story/359407-no-head-hanging-no-regrets-for-lebo-s-tigers |title=No Head Hanging, No Regrets For Lebo's Tigers |last=Atkinson |first=Stephen |date=April 16, 2003 |website=Scout.com |location=Atlanta (Georgia) |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

Professional career

Brown started his professional career in Finland, spending the 2005 pre-season with KTP Palloilijat and playing the first game of the Korisliiga on September 30 (for 19 points and 7 rebounds in 37 minutes), however he was released by the side because they were looking for an out-and-out center.{{cite web |url=http://www.katajabasket.fi/edustusjoukkue/uutiset/2008-09/uutiset472.php |title=Joukkue valmis kauteen 2008-09 |author= |date=August 26, 2008 |website=KatajaBasket.fi |access-date=September 18, 2015 |language=fi |trans-title=The team finished the period 2008–09}}

He joined Swedish Basketligan side Sundsvall Dragons in October 2005,{{cite web |url=http://www.svt.se/sport/amerikansk-forward-till-sundsvall |title=Amerikansk forward till Sundsvall |author= |date=October 11, 2005 |website=Svt.se |access-date=September 18, 2015 |language=sv |trans-title=American forward to Sundswall}} playing 21 games before a finger injury sidelined him in January 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.svd.se/borta-var-bast-i-basketligan |title=Borta var bäst i Basketligan |author= |date=January 24, 2006 |website=Svd.se |access-date=September 18, 2015 |language=sv |trans-title=Gone were the best in the basketball league}}{{cite web |url=http://www.eurobasket.com/reports/2008/8/26.asp |title=Eurobasket news report (8/26/2008) - KORISLIIGA: Quinnel Brown back to Scandinavia/Finland |last=Hurmalainen |first=Rauno |date=August 28, 2008 |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}}

The Dragons were interested in re-signing him for 2006–07 but the deal fell through, he instead joined the ABA's Twin City Ballers in November 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3393403 |title=Ballers announce team roster |author= |date=November 7, 2006 |website=OurSportsCentral.com |access-date=September 17, 2015}}

He stayed with the side even when they went through financial problems (with player salaries getting slashed to $100 per game) and became a traveling team with Brown performing well in two February 2007 games,{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldpalladium.com/localnews/twin-city-ballers-are-still-playing-basketball-but-barely/article_4c500e52-efb0-5dae-9db1-63d8348119ab.html |title=Twin City Ballers are still playing basketball, but barely |last=Benson |first=Frank |date=February 7, 2007 |website=HeraldPalladium.com |access-date=September 17, 2015}} however, the team folded soon after and he finished the 2006–07 ABA season with the Detroit Panthers.

After averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the last eight games of the season, he was re-signed by the team in July 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3501504 |title=Quinnel "Q" Brown Re-Signs With Detroit Panthers |author= |date=July 5, 2007 |website=OurSportsCentral.com |publisher=American Basketball Association |access-date=September 18, 2015}}

Brown was again announced as a Sundsvall Dragons player in October 2007 but had yet to join the team at that point.{{cite web |url=http://www.st.nu/basket/basketligan-herr/uppkast-sodertalje-kings-x0096-sundsvall-dragons |title=Uppkast Södertälje Kings Sundsvall Dragons |author= |date=October 13, 2007 |website=St.nu |access-date=September 18, 2015 |language=sv |trans-title=Preview: Södertälje Kings Sundsvall Dragons}}

He reached an agreement with the club to rescind his contract the same month, without playing a game.{{cite web |url=http://www.svt.se/sport/brown-bryter-med-dragons |title=Amerikansk forward till Sundsvall |author= |date=October 31, 2007 |website=Svt.se |access-date=September 18, 2015 |language=sv |trans-title=Brown breaks [contract] with Dragons}}

On February 4, 2008, he joined the Quad City Riverhawks of the Premier Basketball League (PBL).{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3588916 |title=Riverhawks add three |author= |date=February 4, 2008 |website=OurSportsCentral.com |access-date=September 18, 2015}}

He helped the side win the PBL's Western Division regular season,{{cite web |url=http://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/riverhawks-bring-out-their-best/article_bb79f79f-ff52-5ea4-a780-19ca5734fe8e.html |title=Riverhawks bring out their best |last=Maloney |first=Christopher |date=March 8, 2008 |website=QcTimes.com |access-date=September 18, 2015}} and reach the postseason Division title game on March 21 where his 10 points were not enough as the Riverhawks lost to end the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.qconline.com/sports/professional/riverhawks-fall-in-division-title-game/article_6e55c775-9918-5dd7-94de-dc8564a88adc.html |title=Riverhawks fall in division title game |last=Tappa |first=Steve |date=March 21, 2008 |website=QConline.com |access-date=September 18, 2015}}

Also in February, he had been signed by the Gary Steelheads to play the International Basketball League season starting in mid-march.{{cite web |url=http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/sportdigest/article_21f85166-f1e8-5492-952d-73c3caaf08b6.html |title=sportDigest |author= |date=February 9, 2008 |website=NWItimes.com |access-date=September 18, 2015}}

Joining the team after his stint with the Riverhawks, he soon impressed coach Rob Spon who praised his work ethic and versatility.{{cite web |url=http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/other/professional/ex-auburn-star-provides-added-kick-for-steelheads/article_4820b967-1d03-5e27-883d-b76f785e3e88.html |title=Ex-Auburn star provides added kick for Steelheads |last=Hamnik |first=Al |date=April 26, 2008 |website=NWItimes.com |access-date=September 18, 2015}}

He continued on his good form, making the league All-Star Game and scoring 32 points against the Holland Blast in the last regular season game on June 23,{{cite web |url=http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20080623/NEWS/306239834 |title=Steelheads rout playoff-bound Blast in finale |author= |date=June 23, 2008 |website=HollandSentinel.com |access-date=September 18, 2015}} which ended the Steelheads' season as they withdrew from the playoffs for financial reasons.

He played one exhibition game with another IBL side—the Elkhart Express—on August 9, amidst doubts (later confirmed) that the team would not play the next season.{{cite web |url=http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2008-08-09/news/26912830_1_blue-team-express-uniforms-hosts |title=Express anxious about future |last=Davidson |first=Scott |date=August 9, 2008 |website=SouthBendTribune.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}}

On August 26, 2008, Brown returned to the Finnish Korisliiga after signing with Kataja.

He averaged 14.0 points and 5.9 rebounds on average over 43 games in 2008–2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.basket.fi/sarjat/pelaajat/pelaaja/?player_id=2369&season_id=27 |title=Korisliiga (2008-2009 Pelikausi) -Quinnel Brown |author= |website=Basket.fi |access-date=September 18, 2015 |language=fi |trans-title=Korisliiga (2008–2009 Season) -Quinnel Brown}}

On January 19, 2010, Brown signed a six-week deal with Benetton Fribourg Olympic of the Swiss Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNBA), temporarily replacing the injured Vladimir Buscaglia.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurobasket.com/reports/2010/1/20.asp |title=Eurobasket news report (1/20/2010) - Fribourg land Quinnel Brown |last=Maffioli |first=Luca |date=August 28, 2008 |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.20min.ch/ro/sports/autres/story/28305259 |title=Fribourg Olympic rebondit |author= |date=January 19, 2010 |website=20min.ch |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=fr |trans-title=Fribourg Olympic bounces back}}

He played only three games with Fribourg,{{cite web |url=http://lnba.ch/joueur.php?id=4573&m_f=0 |title=Joueurs / Brown Quinnel |author= |website=LNBA.ch |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=fr |trans-title=Players / Brown Quinnel}} before his contract was cancelled on January 27 by the Swiss in order to recruit Ed Draughan.{{cite web |url=http://www.freiburger-nachrichten.ch/archiv-sport/olympic-mit-neuem-auslaender-vacallo |title=Olympic mit neuem Ausländer in Vacallo |author= |date=January 27, 2010 |website=Freiburger-Nachrichten.ch |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=de |trans-title=Olympic with new foreigners in Vacallo}}

He played an April 3 IBL game (scoring 22 points) with the USA All-Stars, a team composed of tryout players.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurobasket.com/reports/2010/4/9.asp |title=Eurobasket news report (4/9/2010) - First games of the season |author= |date=April 4, 2010 |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}}

In October of the same year, he was announced as likely to play for the Elkhart Express again in exhibition games away to the Chinese national team.{{cite web |url=http://www.elkharttruth.com/sports/2010/10/26/Express-will-play-but-not-in-Elkhart.html |title=Express will play, but not in Elkhart |last=Anderson |first=Anthony |date=October 26, 2010 |website=ElkhartTruth.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}}

When former Gary Steelheads coach Robert Spon was chosen to coach Canadian PBL outfit Québec Kebs, he brought a number of his former players along with him, including Brown and former teammate Royce Parran to play the 2011 season starting in January.{{cite web |url=http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/sports/actualites-sportives/201012/22/01-4354904-des-kebs-deja-tisses-serre.php |title=Des Kebs déjà tissés serré |last=Deschênes |first=Steve |date=December 23, 2010 |website=LaPresse.ca |publisher=Le Soleil |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=fr |trans-title=The Kebs already tightly-knit}}

He had an immediate impact, leading the team in scoring (22,3 points per game), rebounding (8.3 pg) and blocks (3 pg), with two nominations for league weekly MVP.{{cite web |url=http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/sports/actualites-sportives/201101/11/01-4359204-quinnel-levar-brown-alias-q-comme-dans-quebec.php |title=Quinnel Levar Brown alias Q comme dans... Québec! |last=Labbé |first=Erick |date=January 12, 2011 |website=LaPresse.ca |publisher=Le Soleil |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=fr |trans-title=Quinnel Levar Brown aka Q as in... Quebec}}

This success continued into the season as he was the league's top scorer with more than 21 points per game,{{cite web |url=http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/sports/actualites-sportives/201103/27/01-4383708-air-strikers-108kebs-152-tour-de-chauffe-avant-les-series.php |title=Air Strikers 108/Kebs 152: tour de chauffe avant les séries |last=Bossé |first=Olivier |date=March 28, 2011 |website=LaPresse.ca |publisher=Le Soleil |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=fr |trans-title=Air Strikers 108/Kebs 152: warming up before the series}} he later added the PBL season MVP title,{{cite news |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/03/energy-finalizing-roster |title=Energy finalizing roster |last=Moddejonge |first=Gerry |date=May 3, 2011 |newspaper=TorontoSun.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}} whilst the Kebs' season ended on April 9 following a contentious playoff semifinals defeat to the Rochester Razorsharks.{{cite web |url=http://www.mpnnow.com/article/20110409/NEWS/304099936 |title=Basketball: Razorsharks advance to PBL finals |author= |date=April 9, 2011 |website=MPNnow.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}}

His next stop in early May was with another Canadian side, the IBL's Edmonton Energy.

However, he left the team in late May due to what were described as family issues.{{cite news |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/28/energy-eclipses-punchless-allstars |title=Energy eclipses punchless All-Stars |last=Moddejonge |first=Gerry |date=May 28, 2011 |newspaper=TorontoSun.com |access-date=September 19, 2015}}

In September 2011, the American joined Cuxhaven BasCats to play the 2011–12 German second division 2. Basketball Bundesliga season.

He played 18 games for 14.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game,{{cite web |url=http://statistik.beko-bbl.de/beko-bbl/statistik/spieler/index.php?team_id=471&pos=&spieler_id=22006&saison=2011 |title=Saison 2011 / 2012 - 2.Basketball Bundesliga Nord |website=statistik.Beko-BBL.de |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=de |trans-title=Season 2011/2012 – 2.Basketball Bundesliga Nord}}

He suffered a hand injury that sidelined him from January, when it became apparent he wouldn't recover in time to play again for the BasCats he asked to be released from his contract and left the team on February 21, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.cn-online.de/sport/news1/basketball-quinnel-brown-verlaesst-die-bascats.html |title=Basketball: Quinnel Brown verlässt die BasCats |last1=Lütt |first1=Frank |last2=Spreckelsen |first2=Knut |date=February 21, 2012 |website=CN-online.de |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=de |trans-title=Basketball: Quinnel Brown leaves the BasCats}}

Later that month, Brown reunited with the Quebec Kebs, who had in between joined the newly created National Basketball League of Canada (NBL), which was made up of several former PBL teams.{{cite web |url=http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/sports/actualites-sportives/201202/20/01-4498050-kebs-comme-un-match-de-series.php |title=Kebs: comme un match de séries |last=Lavoie |first=Kathleen |date=February 21, 2012 |website=LaPresse.ca |publisher=Le Soleil |access-date=September 19, 2015 |language=fr |trans-title=Kebs: like a series game}}{{cite web|title=Haywood, Smith NBL all-star team captains|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/sports/68815-haywood-smith-nbl-all-star-team-captains|website=The Chronicle Herald|agency=The Canadian Press|access-date=September 19, 2015}} He made his league debut on February 23, 2012, in a loss to the Halifax Rainmen, scoring 0 points in just 1 minute of play.{{cite web|title=Boxscores|url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/gid/115/grid/RS/rid/6000777/boxscore.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614132047/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/gid/115/grid/RS/rid/6000777/boxscore.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2015|website=FIBA|access-date=September 19, 2015}}

Brown was named NBL Canada Most Valuable Player in 2015 and subsequently won the league championship.{{cite web|title=QUINNEL BROWN NAMED NBL MVP|url=http://www.windsorexpress.ca/p/14558/nr/100204/quinnel-brown-named-nbl-mvp|website=WindsorExpress.ca|access-date=May 3, 2015}}{{cite web|title=TWICE AS NICE!|url=http://www.windsorexpress.ca/news/100221/twice-as-nice|website=WindsorExpress.ca|access-date=May 3, 2015}}

Personal

Quinnel Levar Brown's second name was given to him in reference to actor LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, he is nicknamed Q by friends and teammates.

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20160603165817/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6033745/playerview.html FIBA game center profile] Retrieved September 18, 2015
[http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Quinnel-Brown/Summary/5615 RealGM profile] Retrieved January 29, 2018
[http://www.nblcanada.com/14570/2014-15-statistics NBL Canada statistics] Retrieved September 19, 2015
[http://basketball.latinbasket.com/player/Quinnel_Brown/61174 Latinbasket.com profile] {{Subscription required}} Retrieved September 19, 2015