Sixteen-year-old power forward, Laila Brown, is one of the top players on the Warren Central girls varsity basketball team, according to Head Coach Stacy Mitchell.
Brown was born in Detroit, Michigan, and at age 4, she began to play basketball. She is now a Junior in high school and stands at a height of six feet and three inches.
“My whole family played it and I just grew up around it,” Brown said.
Brown is a quick thinker and speedy player on the court. However, she tends to get upset easily.
“I get mad quickly,” Brown explained. “I’ve got anger issues.”
Brown has had many injuries throughout her basketball career including her back, knee and ankle.
She supports her teammates, and they all help to build one another up by giving each other constructive criticism and receiving it in a positive way.
“We just talk to each other about what we need to fix and how we can get better,” 15-year-old girl’s basketball forward Acelynn Durham said.
Durham described Brown as, “nice, vocal, and hardworking.”
Brown also has the support of her mother to keep her motivated.
“She comes to every single one of my games,” Brown said of her mom “She pays for everything, all that.”
Brown is trained by her coach to have a usual routine so she can stay ready to ball. According to Coach Mitchell, the routine has to be something the girls are comfortable with and know well.
”If you really think about it, being comfortable is a deeper focus,” Mitchell said. “I’ll put it like that, you just got to have a good routine. Just like when you wake up in the morning, probably brush your teeth, wash your face, then you put your clothes on, things of that nature. That helps set the day. Same thing with sports, you want to have a good routine.”
Brown is now a junior in high school and has had a roller coaster-like high school experience.
“It’s been good, real irritating but it's good,” she said.
Brown uses her resources to deal with the difficulties life throws her way.
“My coping methods are really just listening to music,” she said.
To be a student athlete has different interpretations. Many have a definition of “student athlete” that is unique to them and their values.
“Putting your work before your sports and things,” she said. “I make time for everything that I do. It’s like if I got work to do, I make time for it after or before practice.”
Brown thinks of basketball as a hobby willing to take up free time.
“I like having something to do honestly, like I like working out so I just play basketball,” Brown said.