Aris Brown, Son Of NFL Legend Jim Brown, To Play Lacrosse At HBCU
The son of one of the greatest football players in NFL history is coming to an HBCU, but not to play football, HBCU Gameday reports.
Lacrosse star Aris Brown, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, has committed to attend Hampton University. He announced his commitment to the Pirates via Instagram on Saturday night (May 2).
“I really liked the school as a whole, and wanted to play competitive lacrosse with kids that look like me and make some history,” Brown told Lacrosse Bucket.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound midfielder helped lead Sierra Canyon (Calif.) to three consecutive Gold Coast League titles and LA CIF playoff appearances. He was also a four-year starter for the Trailblazers. Brown stated that he views his game as “pretty versatile” and loves to play both ends of the field.
“Aris is the most noteworthy recruit in HBCU lacrosse history,” said HBCU Gameday contributor Brian Simpkins. “His two-way ability made him a prized recruit.”
The NFL legend was a lacrosse star himself in the 1950s at Syracuse University, but he eventually chose football and went on a record-setting career with the Cleveland Browns.
It’s been 55 years since the elder Brown played his last NFL game, however, he’s been a guiding light to his athletic career.
While his father has been a big influence throughout his athletic career, Brown said he wants his game to speak for itself and not just be labeled as Jim Brown’s son. He also stated that he does not feel that much pressure, despite his father’s legacy.
“My dad has influenced my athletic career by giving me things to work on when he watches me play,” Brown said. “No matter how well I play, there’s always something that he thinks I can improve on. I’m very grateful for it though, and how it’s helped me throughout high school.”
Hampton University is currently the only Division I HBCU with a lacrosse program. The program was launched in 2016.