One of North Farmington’s most improved players is 6-foot-6 forward Dylan Brown, who has become a threat to score both inside and outside.
As far as varsity debuts go, Connor Brown passed the test.
As a sophomore last season, the 6-foot-6, 195-pound power forward became one of the North Farmington boys basketball team’s two All-Oakland Activities Association first team selections and landed on Hometown Life’s All-Area team as a special mention, making him one of the 50 best players on the west side of metro Detroit.
Often, he dominated the paint, securing rebound after rebound and coming up with timely dunks. What’s more, he even set the Raiders’ program record for most offensive rebounds in a single game with 11.
It was exactly the effort they needed from the underclassman, especially after losing 6-8 forward Dylan Smith to graduation following the 2023-24 season. Smith was a key contributor during North’s campaign to the Division 1 state championship, finishing with 1,000 career points and all-state honors before signing with Davenport.
“It was definitely an experience I had to adapt to,” Brown said following a DC Elite game on July 21 at Birmingham Groves. “I had to learn the things he had done before me while adapting to the varsity because it’s way faster than the JV. I had to put in a lot of work to get where I am now, making sure I’m playing at the level they need me at.”
A season later, and the lesson plan is only getting more challenging for the incoming junior.
Throughout the offseason, Brown has worked on becoming a leader, developing his perimeter game and creating chemistry with the three new guards in North’s backcourt.
Despite entering only his second year on varsity, he’ll be the second-most experienced on the team. Only senior DJ Morgan, who was North’s sixth man when they became the state runner-ups, has logged more time on the floor.
Four months ago, Brown was one of the youngest on the roster.
“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy,” he said. “But I’m ready for the challenge, and I’m ready to help the younger guys so when I leave, they can carry on (without me). I’ve tried to take time to take on that lead role on the team so I can hopefully help us get back to the state championship.”
On the court, Brown has refined his game, becoming a more effective shooter and passer from behind the 3-point arc and learning to bring the ball up the floor as an impromptu point guard.
He doesn’t want to be known as simply a post player.
“I’ve been working out every day, working on my ballhandling and shooting while doing the regular stuff to be a big man because I want to be a big man who’s an inside and outside threat for our team,” Brown said.
So far, so good, especially during the AAU season.
Take, for example, this past weekend. Brown played for D Rice Elite at the Summer Jam showcase in Milwaukee, receiving praise for his newfound skills from some recruiting outlets. After he scored 28 points in a game, Midwest Hoops Spotlight wrote on social media, “Connor Brown continues to be a big stock booster (in recruiting),” and that he has been “playing on another level.”
The recruiting site also stated that Brown was a “strong and highly impactful 6-6 forward who is showing a growing game,” all things North has seen out of him as well throughout their summer league schedule.
“He’s played really well this summer, developing into a perimeter scorer and getting better as a passer,” Raiders assistant Pete Mantyla said. “He’ll sometimes run the floor for us because our fours (power forwards) are usually guys who can shoot it, dribble it and penetrate.”
The only question is: How well will he play without point guard Rob Smith?
As a junior, Smith handled the ball alongside Landon Williams, HTL’s Co-Player of the Year two seasons ago, and was integral to North winning 24 games, the OAA-Red and district and regional titles.
Last season, he became more of a ball-dominant guard, relying on his ability to scoot to the basket for hard-fought layups and and-one opportunities. Plus, he excelled at pull-up jumpers. At any moment, he could take over a game and switch momentum in the Raiders’ favor, a big reason why he averaged 19 points and three assists per game.
But Smith has since graduated, signing with Oakland Community College this past spring.
North hopes to replace his ball handling and offensive production with a three-headed backcourt of Morgan, senior Quran Creary and sophomore Troy Waldron Jr.
“I think they share the ball a little more, and they move the ball around more,” Brown said. “Rob could just take it to the bucket and get his whenever he wanted to. This team, we’ve got a couple guards who can handle the ball, direct everything and still get buckets when they can. The guards we have now can definitely direct us where we need to go.”
Brown’s sophomore season was about proving he belonged out there.
Now, with more responsibility as both a leader and three-level scorer, it’s his job to make that transition for North’s new starters just as seamless. As he goes, so should his teammates.
And he’s planning on having a big junior year.
“It’s a lot of guys doing something that’s new,” Mantyla said. “But I think once we have TJ (Waldron), Q and DJ together and we’re solid at that spot, things should go pretty smoothly for him.”
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.