Hawks' Brown Participates In NCAA Men's Basketball Elite Symposium

Saint Joseph's sophomore Xzayvier Brown participated in the prestigious 2024 NCAA Elite Student-Athlete Symposium for Men's Basketball. Joining Brown at the NCAA Headquarters was assistant coach - player development Phillip Lawrence-Ricks, who was one of 10 coaches and administrators invited to the three-day symposium.

Balls bouncing, yelling, laughter. Blindfolded 6- and 7-foot-tall men's basketball players, cautiously walking around cones trying to pick up pieces of paper scattered across the ground. The goal of the icebreaker was to try to listen to their teammate through the noise and chaos. The timer went off, and the 14 student-athletes sat back in their seats and prepared for the educational session. 

The noise in the icebreaker intentionally represented the noise in these athletes' lives as they navigate the transition from college to their professional careers. 

NCAA leadership development and enforcement staff members led the attendees through sessions focused on making that leap. From decision-making strategies and advice from former NBA players to financial literacy and working with sports agents, the student-athletes experienced a dynamic lineup of sessions led by industry experts.

Here are three lessons the student-athletes learned in their time at the NCAA.

1. The game of basketball is a tool to direct you to different points in your life. 
Former NBA players Kent Bazemore and Okaro White talked with the student-athletes about the ins and outs of their careers in the NBA. In the session, Bazemore and White helped the student-athletes to understand the opportunities that basketball will provide in the future.

2. What got you here won't get you to where you want to go. 
Former Division I men's basketball coach and current ESPN analyst Tom Crean talked about the decision-making necessary for these high-level athletes. Crean's message to the student-athletes centered around intentionally building relationships and holding oneself to a high level. For these players to be successful in their professional careers, characteristics like maturity, self-awareness and social awareness are crucial. 

"I learned about working hard and just how important every relationship is because (Tom Crean) was talking about, especially at the next level, how the NBA people track everything you do, so having good relationship with advisors, coaches, family members, just trying to make like your image and your brand look good," Brown said.

3. Think the long game.
In a financial literacy session, financial educator Courtney Altemus spoke about the importance of student-athletes thinking long term about their financial decisions. Attendees were equipped with practical tools and knowledge for navigating their finances and choosing a financial advisor.

2024 Elite Student-Athlete Symposium for Basketball Roster 
Michael Ajayi, Gonzaga
Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech
Xzayvier Brown, Saint Joseph's
Darren Buchanan Jr., George Washington
Jason Edwards, Vanderbilt
Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
Donald "DJ" Hand Jr., Boston College
AJ Hoggard, Vanderbilt
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Christian Ings, Norfolk State
Boden Kapke, Butler
Kylen Milton, Murray State
Andre Screen, Butler
Tyler Tejada, Towson

This news article originally appeared on sjuhawks.com.