NCAA Basketball: 10 mid-major gems to watch for 2018-19

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: A detailed view of a Wilson Basketball with a NCAA March Madness logo on it during the first half between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Florida Gators during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 15: Georgia Southern Eagles cheelerders react as there team take on the Georgia State Panthersduring the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Championship game at the UNO Lakefront Arena on March 15, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Tookie Brown-Sr. – Georgia Southern

Tookie, whose given name is Quindarius Deavundre Brown is a star in the Sun Belt Conference at Georgia Southern. The diminutive guard from Madison, GA has been an immediate impact player from the moment he stepped on the floor for head coach Mark Byington. The Eagles have averaged 17 wins a year over Brown’s first three seasons, but have also have snuck up on a couple of high-major teams over the past two seasons, nearly knocking off N.C. State two years ago and taking down Wake Forest to begin last season.

As a freshman the 5-11 guard played in all 31 games, played over30 minutes per game and scored in double figures in all but two of them, recording a career-high 34 in a 101-100 win over Appalachian State. From the word jump, Brown has been a gunner, heaving up 408 shots and 134 three-pointers, while shooting 43.4% from the field and 37% from downtown. He finished his first season with averages of 17.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals.

As a sophomore was a victim of the sophomore slump, seeing his points fall a bit while his rebounds and assists both went up. He still averaged over 17 points, 3.4 rebounds, and four assists. While his point average went down slightly he was super productive on a game-by-game basis, scoring 10-plus points 27 times and at least 15 points in 24 of those contests.

Brown bounced back last season, posting career-best numbers in nearly all offensive categories. He notched 18.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals, but where Brown’s game really took off last season was in his efficiency. He took 81 fewer shots as the year before, almost all of which were three-point shots, he took 177 two years ago and just 104 last year. Due to the lower shot volume, Brown’s percentages skyrocketed, shooting 53% from the field and 47% from three-point land.

If Brown can continue his upward trend into his final season, there is no telling how high the dynamo’s numbers can go.

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