Lights add first hoop recruit

Lights add first hoop recruit
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com

The Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team has added its first recruit for the upcoming season. And he's a familiar player to local hoop fans.

Rick Brown of Belgrade, one of the top scorers in the Central A this past season, has signed an NAIA national letter of intent to play basketball for the Lights next season.

Brown, a 6-3 shooting guard, finished fourth in the Central A in scoring at 14.6 points per game, while leading the the Panthers in free throw percentage (79.2), assists (44) and rebounding (7.1).

He also shot 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, which earned him second team all-conference honors. Brown was also named to the all-tournament team at the Central A Divisional.

"Rick has really good size for a wing player," said Lights head coach Shawn Huse. "He did a nice job of scoring and rebounding this year for Belgrade. He has the potential to compete as a shooter at the college level.

Brown, 18, was born in Alexandria, Va., before his family moved to Bozeman six years ago. He said he plans to spend part of the summer in Havre to help prepare for the upcoming season. Brown plans to major in education at Northern.

"We are excited to have Rick as part of our program, and are anxious to see how he develops," Huse said.