Taliek Brown Back At UConn For Unfinished Business

By On 2013/02/05 · 6 Comments

STORRS- Caught up with Taliek Brown, who is on campus this semester to complete his degree.

“Three more classes,” he said. “Math, stats and Spanish. I hurt my knee, and I promised my mother I would do this. So it seemed like the right time.”

Brown, 30, who played in Jim Calhoun’s backcourt from 2000-2004, was the first in the current string of New York guards to come to Storrs. Kemba Walker followed him, with Omar Calhoun on the team now, Terrence Samuel next.

“I was thinking about that,” Brown said, “after I came, a lot of other kids from New York started looking into it.”

UConn had just won its first title, in 1999, when Brown came to Storrs, choosing UConn over Syracuse and . “Man, it was different – farm, cows,” he said.

But he ended up helping the Huskies win a second title, averaging 6.5 assists per game in 2003-04, getting nine points and four assists in 37 minutes against Georgia Tech in the championship game, before he left for a pro career played mostly in Venezuela, Mexico, Turkey and Canada. This week, he has been in and out of Gampel Pavilion, attending the game against South Florida on Sunday, working out with the current players between his classes. They are heading to New York to play St. John’s at Madison Square Garden.

“I was nervous for every game,” Brown said, “but even more so when we’d play in The Garden. That’s the Mecca of basketball, and every kid from New York wants to play on that court.”

 
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6 Responses to Taliek Brown Back At UConn For Unfinished Business

  1. Ron says:
    2013/02/05 at 8:08 pm

    Taliek was not appreciated by Uconn fans. He was a solid and tough player, who really knew how to run the team. I’m glad he’s finishing up his studies.

    • UConnJack says:
      2013/02/06 at 7:24 am

      You are correct Ron. Taliek was simply playing exactly as his coach directed — run the offense and show true leadership on the floor. Of the three great guards from NYC in his era, he had the best collegiate career of any of them. When I hear Taliek’s name, I inevitably think of the “miracle shot” against Pitt in MSG. Best wishes to him always.

  2. 81Alum says:
    2013/02/06 at 9:07 am

    If Taliek had an offense (besides running it) he would have had a great career in the NBA. But more importantly than that, Coach Calhoun loved him for his attitude and humility. Of all the kids Coach had had to his home for dinner (in recruiting), Taliek was the only one to get up to help clear the table. That story, combined with his determination on the bball floor convinced me that this was a special young man. That he has come back to get his degree (at the ripe old age of 30) only confirms that he has fulfilled the promise of his youth.
    “T”, I wish you well and am proud to call you a CT Husky.

  3. AnotherHuskiesVictory says:
    2013/02/06 at 8:03 pm

    If UConn is going to get creamed by NCAA when athletes leave without a degree and bring down APR, we should get something extra back when guys like Taliek come back. I’m sure he wrung everything he could out of his pro BBall career, nice example to come back now and finish the degree. Hope guys on the current team have had the opportunity to learn from him.

  4. BE Hoops says:
    2013/02/06 at 9:00 pm

    Congratulations TB – Glad you are back at UCONN and finishing up your degree. You made us proud when you played, and your Mom would be proud of you now. I keep an 8×10 of you in my office as a reminder of how people can persevere and rally!

  5. Laurie says:
    2013/02/07 at 10:04 am

    CONGRATULATIONS Taliek Brown on coming back to get your degree!!!!! My hat is off to you – you have seen what a degree can do for you and keeping a promise is very important!!! Again, I congratulate you!!!!!!!