Meet one of the newcomers to the GSU basketball family, Jalen!
Name: Jalen Brown
Hometown: Buchanan, MI
Classification: Senior
Major: Psychology
Instagram: @splashbrown
Her Campus: Why did you want to come to GSU?
Jalen Brown: “For the basketball program and for the lifestyle: it was different from all the things I’m used to. Where I went to high school, I graduated with 2 black people in my class. I really wanted to experience black culture and I knew I could get the chance to do that here.”
HC: What are you involved in on campus?
JB: “Bible talk, basketball team, and napping.”
HC: What do you like most about being on the basketball team?
JB: “It’s like being in a fraternity, or part of a little family. It’s really cool and it feels like I have a bunch of brothers.”
HC: What inspires you?
JB: “The lifestyle I want to live and my family. I want to be able to put my family on and prove that someone in my family can make it. There are a few members in my family that are notorious for sports at my high school, especially for breaking the record in football for 3 generations. But I’m the first person in my family to be a division 1 athlete in college and that’s a big deal where I’m from.”
HC: What do you do outside of school?
JB: “Video games, working out, and I go to the movies at least once a week. Oh and I’m a foodie, I love going different places to eat.”
HC: How do you balance basketball, school life and social life?
JB: “Prioritizing. When it comes down to taking a nap or going to do something productive, you have to choose what’s important. You can’t be indecisive.”
HC: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned at GSU?
JB: “That mental strength is just as important as any other strength. You have to be mentally strong in life to succeed. You need to tough it out at times out and realize that nothing happens overnight. And remember that nothing lasts forever: good or bad. Just be cool.”
HC: What are your goals after graduation? As well as, your ultimate goal in life?
JB: “My ultimate goal is to go to the NBA. I’m going to chase that until I can’t anymore. Crazy things have happened to people in worse situations, so I feel like it could happen to me if I work hard enough. I’ll always chase that [goal] even if I’m hooping at the YMCA, but if that doesn’t work, I want to pursue film for my love of movies.”
HC: What advice would you give young athletes?
JB: “Listen, listen, listen. A lot of young athletes think they know everything just because they’re good at the level they’re at. I used to be like that so I know majority of young athletes think like that. In sports, there’s always room for improvement. Always listen to your coaches and people older than you who can teach you something.”
Quick Quiz!
Favorite artist? Drake.
Biggest pet peeve? Drama.
Something not a lot of people know about you? I’m very creative and I feel like I could potentially be an entertainer or actor.
Celeb crush? Natalie la Rose.