Kareem Brewton named Southern Conference player of the year

Unique is the word that kept coming back to head coach Jeremy Shulman while talking about Eastern Florida State College guard Kareem Brewton.

After all Brewton is a second in NJCAA Region 8 in scoring, averaging 20.9 points per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the floor. He also averages 5.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. But if you ask him about how many points he has scored, he will just shrug.

"The points are good, we need to score to win and that is what is important," Brewton said after scoring a season-high 38 points in his final home game. "The goal is to go to the state tournament and win, then go to the national tournament and win there."

It is one of the reasons that Brewton was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year and why his coach calls him unique.

"I don't know if I have ever used that word to describe him before but I may never use another word to describe him, unique is the best word for him. All he cares about is winning. It is so hard for someone to be recruited by so many schools and stay focused, stay coachable and stay humble. You are unique to be able to do that," Shulman said.

Brewton is being recruited by dozens of schools including Ohio State, Illinois, Memphis and Gonzaga. The sophomore from Claxton, Ga. has led the Titans to a 26-4 record and a sixth-straight Southern Conference title, heading into the Region VIII tournament as one of the favorites.

"His character, his coachability, his drive, his work ethic. That is what makes up who Kareem Brewton is," Shulman said. "He has an amazing feel for the game, he just knows how to play the game of basketball."

 And a big reason the Titans are in the mix for another trip to the national tournament.