[PJStar.com]Head with Dee Brown hosting camp

For the head fans out there, here is some update

2 out of 3 not bad, for now

Ex-Illini Brown joins Head in Peoria before trying to join him, ex-teammate Williams in NBA


Wednesday, August 9, 2006

by dave reynolds

of the journal star


PEORIA - These are anxious days for Dee Brown, the former Illinois guard whose NBA roster hopes are being evaluated by the Utah Jazz, who selected him in the second round of the league's June draft.
But he's receiving plenty of support from his old Illini backcourt mates - Deron Williams and Luther Head - both of whom had productive rookie NBA seasons with Utah and Houston, respectively. The trio led Illinois to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 2005.

Brown and Head were together again Tuesday as instructors and luncheon speakers at the eighth annual Mitchell "J.J." Anderson Basketball Camp, which opened at the Peoria Civic Center.

"I really like Utah and if it's meant to be for me to be in Utah, I'll sign," Brown said. "If not, I'm a basketball player and I'll continue to play and some team will appreciate how I play and how hard I work."

The 6-foot Maywood native worked out earlier this summer with Williams, who like Brown was a member of the Jazz NBA Summer League team.

"I played fairly good for three games and the other three, I just played so-so," Brown said. "I'm working hard and learning the system. Deron can only teach me so much. I've got to go out there and produce."

Head, a Chicago native who averaged 8.8 points for the Rockets, had some off-the-court advice for Brown during a Civic Center news conference.

"I've told him about the rookie hazing," Head said. "He'll have to carry some bags and sing some birthday songs, do little dances. He's ready for it."

When asked for a sampling of his musical talents, the soft-spoken Head smiled but declined.

"I don't want to give you a sample," he said. "You'd think I was in the wrong business."

Head does seem to have picked the correct profession. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 29 minutes per game for the Rockets, who missed the playoffs despite the presence of All-Stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

"It was a roller coaster because I wasn't used to losing like we did and we had a lot of injuries," Head said. "You're not supposed to be grateful when your teammates are hurt, but it gave me an opportunity to play. We didn't win much, but I definitely learned. Hopefully, I can do better this season."

He'll have his work cut out, since the Rockets have signed shooting guards Kelenna Azubuike and Vassilis Spanoulis. Veteran guard Bob Sura also is attempting a comeback from injury.

"Coach (Jeff Van Gundy) will play who he wants to play," Head said. "I'll just go in and work hard. When Nov. 1st comes, we'll see who's playing."

Considering the Rockets' Nov. 1 opponent is Utah, Head hopes to be going up against his old college teammates.

"It'll be your first loss," Head said to Brown at the news-conference podium.

The comment broke up Brown, who composed himself when asked about his Final Two memories with the Illini.

"I appreciate the whole career I had there," he said. "It was almost perfect being around a team that was free and loose and did everything together."

Even if it was just for a day, Brown and Head were able to relive those days together.

"We'll be standing up here when we're 60 holding our canes," Brown said. "We'll be together forever."

Camp notes: The turnout for the camp's first day was about 900 inner-city children at the Civic Center's Exhibit Hall. About 200 showed for the luncheon, emceed by Dave Snell, at the Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria. Speakers included former Illinois players Sergio McClain, Dee Brown and Luther Head, Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, Grizzlies assistant coach and former Bradley star Mitchell Anderson, Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Development president McFarland Bragg II and Grizzlies traveling secretary Dana Davis. About $8,000 was raised from the luncheon for Senior Meals, the United Negro College Fund and the George Shadid Jr. Fund. Between sales of the silent auction items at the luncheon and other donations, a total of $25,000 is hoped to be raised, Davis said. ... Heisley, who spoke glowingly of the Memphis-to-Peoria St. Jude run, also was impressed with the camp. "This basketball camp is indicative of the kind of spirit that flows through the people in the city of Peoria," he said. "I look at Dana and Mitchell and wonder how many lives are they affecting, how many people (at the camp) will be productive citizens who will help mold this city."

Dave Reynolds can be reached at 686-3210 or dreynolds@pjstar.com.