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Marist’s Stephen Brown is one of the top recruits in Illinois in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-8 sophomore forward already has offers from Illinois and Miami.
But Brown doesn’t get caught up in the spotlight or get too big of a head. His coaches make sure of that.
“It’s not really a big deal because my coaches tell me every day that I suck,” Brown said. “They push me harder and harder to prove myself.”
Brown is showing that he definitely doesn’t “suck.” He scored 17 points, pulled down seven rebounds and played a huge defensive role Friday night as the visiting RedHawks earned a 63-48 East Suburban Catholic Conference win over Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights.
Darshan Thomas also had 17 points and seven rebounds for Marist (18-4, 7-2), which avenged a 71-60 loss on Dec. 8 at home to the Spartans. Achilles Anderson added eight points and Marquis Vance contributed six points and eight rebounds.
James Bullock Jr. poured in 21 points and added eight rebounds for Marian Catholic (14-8, 7-3). Zack Sharkey scored 11 points and Delan Davis chipped in with nine.
Brown showed off versatile game Friday night. He knocked down a 3-pointer and several other jump shots while also scoring inside consistently.
“I’ve been working on it every day in practice,” Brown said of his outside shot. “Coach (Brian Hynes) keeps pushing me every day. Even if I’m missing, he just tells me to keep shooting and he keeps me confident.”
Hynes knows Brown has had huge expectations surrounding him since he cracked the starting lineup last season as a freshman — and much longer than that.
“He’s been dealing with that since he was in fifth grade,” Hynes said. “I think it’s my responsibility just to kind of make sure I have my arm around him.
“I can’t imagine what it’d be like to be that wanted and talked about at that age, so we just want him to remember that he’s loved, we’re his family, and all that matters is what goes on in our locker room. His teammates love him.”
Thomas, who transferred in from Fenwick, is in his first season as Brown’s teammate.
“Playing with Stephen is amazing,” Thomas said. “He’s a young kid who’s got a lot of energy, and he’s not a selfish kid. He’s going to pass you the ball. He’s going to do what needs to get done.
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“His energy bounces off everybody on the team.”
Brown was a major difference-maker defensively against Marian. Down 16-10 after one quarter, Marist unleashed a 1-3-1 press and took control of the game, outscoring the Spartans 26-4 in the second quarter.
At the top of the press, Brown got his hand on several balls and wreaked havoc.
“We’ve got a really good athlete at the top of the 1-3-1,” Hynes said. “It’s hard to get around him. And I think he really likes it.”
Marist was in control most of the way, but Marian rallied within 10 points and seemed in position to cut it to eight with just under three minutes left when Brown came seemingly out of nowhere to block Bullock’s shot on a breakaway.
“I knew I had to go get it,” Brown said. “I couldn’t let it go in. I knew it would change the game. I had to get back, make a big stop and help us win the game.”
It was another glimpse of Brown’s potential.
“He’s only a sophomore and he already has these high major Division I offers,” Thomas said. “His ceiling is unstoppable. I won’t be surprised if I see him being a McDonald’s All-American, going to a big college, even being a lottery pick in the NBA.
“If he keeps working hard, the sky’s the limit for him.”