More Than Me
By Joel Brown
On the surface, a lot of people just see me as Joel Brown — the basketball player from Cal, but what they don’t see is the people and journey that led me to where I am now.
I was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but moved to Brampton after four years. I was fortunate enough to live in a good suburban neighborhood without much poverty, but my parents would tell me stories about their childhood in Jamaica to keep us humble and appreciative. My parents moved here for the same reason a lot of emigrant parents do: for better opportunities. Because of this, my parents were pretty strict and focused on keeping me disciplined, which only helped me to mature from a young age. However, a lot of my parents’ efforts were directed to my brother who had special needs. I took the situation I was in to not only grow in independence, but in patience as it’s a must when living with someone with a disability.
Growing up in Canada overall was a good experience. It’s not much different than the states. But there are big differences in terms of athletic exposure between the two, which ultimately led me to going to prep school in the U.S.. As AAU picked up, the idea of me not being around my family and hometown friends became more prevalent, which eventually helped the transition to prep school. As great as the opportunities were, I was still a 15 year old, living in a different country, away from my family. Homesickness was real, but I knew it was something I had to go through with this new change in my life. My first prep school in Arizona was more a tutorial on how to navigate the system, but Brewster Academy was where my life really changed.
As great as the opportunities were, I was still a 15 year old, living in a different country, away from my family.
It was an experience I’ll never forget. I was surrounded by international students and had the opportunity to join a historical basketball program, filled with 5-star guys who instantly raised my level of play and work ethic. Being in classes with kids from all over the world and who were already so successful people, I was able to build some really valuable connections.
Navigating the recruiting process was another obstacle in itself. I knew my parents would support me regardless of the decision I made, but it was more my AAU coach they would refer to since they weren’t the most aware and knowledgeable in all the recruiting talk. It took me a while to narrow down where I actually wanted to go, but once I met the coaching staff at Cal, things started to separate from there.
Everything seemed to be going well: I was at a great school like Brewster, I was making great strides with a school I loved, but we all know that sometimes life does not always go in the direction we want it to go.
I remember it just like yesterday.
I had just finished my SATs and was getting ready for a playoff game that same night. But after the game, my coach called me to speak with him. In 2018, my brother passed. Seeing my parents so devastated took a real toll on me, especially having to go through all this being away from home. I have never been one to share my feelings with others, so it didn’t really register how much it had affected me. However, his passing changed me and my perspective: I began to look at life differently, more seriously, and with a deeper motivation to be more thankful. It continues to be something that motivates me to this day.
If you asked me if I would be in the position I am in today when I was kid, away from my family, in another country, and doing what I love most at an amazing school, I would say no. But because of this, it has allowed me to have big goals; I know what I have overcome, but more importantly, I know what I can achieve. My goals are to graduate with a degree from Cal, play professionally in the NBA, and hopefully work with foundations that support kids with disabilities.
Basketball has never been just a game to me. It’s about playing for people like Lil D who made sure I was focused, pursuing the opportunities my parents came here for, leaving a legacy for my brother, and representing a country that gave me a lot. It’s bigger than basketball. It’s about the people around me who motivate me to continue improving each and every day to be the best version of myself.