Brown’s Seamless Change

It’s always exciting to witness the moment an athlete with real potential puts it all together for the first time.

That’s what happened last Thursday night for sophomore volleyball player Cecil Brown of Taft High. The 6-foot-3 Brown was plucked off the basketball team three months ago, having never played volleyball. Former Taft star Joe Nargi spent several weeks teaching him how to hit a volleyball.

Then, against defending City champion Palisades in the playoff quarterfinals, Coach Doug Magorien decided to play the inexperienced Brown after his team lost the first two games. Brown responded with seven kills and five blocks in Taft’s five-game victory. Fans in the bleachers were standing and chanting, “Cecil, Cecil, Cecil.”

“He’s such a great athlete,” said Taft’s top volleyball player, Mike Gledhill. “He plays with so much intensity and character. You have guys who have played for four years and are not as good as him.”

Brown, who scored 45 points in a spring league basketball game last month, may have discovered a new sport to excel in.

“I’m loving it,” he said of volleyball.