Freshman Feature: Elle Brown
9/19/2017 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Freshman Elle Brown is the next chapter in a storied Mizzou family tradition, but this hometown basketball standout is primed to leave her own lasting legacy in the black and gold.
Brown is the daughter of Mizzou track and field six-time All-American and two-time Olympian, Natasha Brown. Natasha was the head women's track and field coach at Drake University for 16 years before taking a coaching job at her alma mater last summer, moving the Brown family back to Columbia. Elle's father, Brian, also returned to Mizzou last year as an Assistant Athletic Director working with the Mizzou Made Program. Though Elle's ties to Mizzou are undeniable, she says she was never pressured to be a Tiger, she fell in love with the school on her own.
"On my unofficial visit, I didn't know who the coaches were, I didn't know anything about the program, I just came on a visit," Brown said. "The way they treated me on that visit was like I was already family. Coach (Robin) Pingeton took really good care of me the entire time. So by the time my official visit came around, it was a done deal. I was definitely set on being a Tiger."
Before transferring to Rock Bridge High School and moving to Columbia last year, Brown was the captain of a dominant Johnston High School team in Iowa. She led the Dragons to 52 victories in her first three high school campaigns while averaging 11.9 points per game on a team that finished with 22 wins her junior year, a school-record.
In her senior season at Rock Bridge, Brown helped the Bruins make their fifth state final appearance in the past six seasons. She improved on the offensive end, averaging 12.1 points and a team-high 3.5 assists per outing. She was named to the Columbia Tribune First Team and also Class 5 All-State by the Missouri Basketball Coaches' Association.
Brown's athleticism also led to success on the track where she was a four-time state qualifier, finishing sixth in the state of Missouri in the 400-meter with a time of 56.94. With all that quickness and athleticism, Mizzou fans are rightfully excited to watch Brown's explosiveness on the offense end, but the speedy guard says she can really thrive on the other side of the floor.
"I would say my defense is my best strength on the court," Brown said. "You can always improve in every area, but I'm definitely confident in my ability on the defensive end."
Whether it be on offense, defense, on the practice gym or on the bench, Brown is ready to help the team however she can in her first year as a Tiger.
"Wherever they put me, I'm just going to try to contribute in that area," Brown said. "But definitely with just being loud and being talkative, I feel that I'll be able to help the team right away as a young vocal leader."
The transition this summer onto a talented Mizzou team was aided by her move back to Columbia last year, Brown explained. "Knowing Sophie Cunningham and Cierra Porter before getting here and meeting some of the girls during my senior high school season, it was easy to come right in and mingle with them."
After settling into her new routine with workouts and offseason practices, Brown is more excited than ever to play the sport she loves in front of the people she cares about most.
"It's exactly what I wanted. I wanted to go to a college where I could have my friends and my family come and watch me," Brown said. "Originally when my parents lived in Iowa, it was a short enough drive where they could have made it to a few games, but now that they're here it makes it even better."
Brown joins Emmanuelle Tahane, Kelsey Winfrey, Nadia Green and Haley Troup in a talented freshman class, adding to a Mizzou Women's Basketball team that is coming off a 22-win season and a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The future of the program is looking bright under the guidance of Pingeton.
With so much excitement coming into the 2017-18 season, Brown is chomping at the bit to get out on the court with her new team and leave her mark on Columbia, Missouri.
"I want Mizzou fans to know that I'm going to bring a lot of energy," Brown said. "I will be hyped on the bench and on the floor, I know that for a fact."
You can catch Elle Brown and the Tigers for the first time when they take on Southwest Baptist on Nov. 2 in their first exhibition game at Mizzou Arena.
Season ticket renewals and new season ticket purchases can now be made by visiting MUTigers.com/myaccount or by contacting the Mizzou Ticket Office via phone at 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @MizzouWBB.
