From STAFF REPORTS

AMERICUS – Former Georgia Southwestern men’s basketball All-American, Phillip Brown, has signed a professional contract to play for Club de l’Etoile Sportive des Cheminots de Longueau Amiens-Metropole Somme Basket Ball (ESCLAMS) of the French National 3 League in 2015-16.
Brown played for Eyres-Moncube Fargue Coudures basket club located outside of Mont-de-Marsan, France, last year. He averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds per game as his team went undefeated in the regular season when Brown was on the court. Eyres-Moncube Fargue Coudures won their pool and made it to the playoffs before finally losing in the championship game.
This year, Brown is playing in a different league and a different part of the country, although it will be his fourth year playing in France.
“I’m a veteran now and speak French,” Brown said. “So transitioning to different cities and regions isn’t as difficult.”
Brown was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2011 while earning All-Conference First Team honors as a member of the Hurricanes. He led the PBC in both rebounding and field goal percentage while coming in second in blocked shots and 11th in scoring.
“Wherever I go, I take GSW with me,” Brown said. ” I love my school, Americus, and my GSW family.”
Brown ranked near the top of D-II in several categories in 2011, as well, including rebounds per game (fifth), field goal percentage (13th) and blocks (21st).
“I want to give a special shout out to Coach (Mike) Leeder,” Brown said. “He never gave up on me and instilled in me the belief that I could play this game professionally. Here I am four years later, still playing because Leeder never let me quit.”
Brown’s former coach wishes him all the best.
“I am very excited for Phillip as he continues his journey in professional basketball,” Leeder said. “Phillip is a special young man, and I enjoyed the opportunity to coach him here at GSW.”
The 6-foot-7 Jonesboro native was the first student-athlete in GSW history to be named an NCAA All-American when he was selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team in March of 2011. He was named to the 2011-12 Sporting News NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Preseason All-America First Team in September.
“He was a highly decorated player, and the team he anchored in 2010-11 will always have a special place for me,” Leeder said. “As it was the first team here at GSW to qualify for the NCAA National Tournament.”
Brown posted similar numbers early in his senior campaign averaging 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds in only 28 minutes of action per contest through 15 games, but his season was cut short by a meniscus injury in January.
In two years at GSW, Brown started 45 games and averaged a double-double (15.3 points, 10. 3 rebounds). He tallied 89 blocks and shot an impressive 62.7 percent from the floor. Brown was named the PBC Player of the Week on four occasions. He recorded 21 double-doubles and scored in double-figures on 38 occasions. In addition, he pulled down double-figure rebounds 23 times.