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Money
Final Four 3-pointer by teenager worth $2 million
Posted: Sunday March 28, 1999 10:39 AM
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- All the practice paid off for 19-year-old Alicia Brown, who hit a 3-point shot worth $2 million in the Gillette Challenge at the Final Four on Saturday night.
| CNN/SI On Site |
Surprised 19-year-old Alicia Brown hit that $2 million shot on national TV on Saturday night? You shouldn't be. After having the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with her on Friday morning, I wasn't.
I'm happy to jump on board the Brown Bandwagon -- which should grow exponentially after Saturday night -- because of the sincerity and clarity she showed when we talked. The fact that she obviously had a killer jump shot didn't hurt either.
Not that Brown wasn't confident. We talked in terms of "when" she won, not "if." But that's the optimism of this young woman showing through, not cockiness. The former high school player had good reason to have faith in herself -- she was nailing close to 40 percent of her shots during her practice session. Even the misses were close, on line if not with the correct oomph. In the case of a million-dollar shot, close can always translate into a friendly bounce.
She practiced in baggy cargo-pocket shorts and Airwalk skateboarding sneakers with coach Rick Barry, who immediately made an impact in her shot. He eliminated a two-dribble approach that left her palming the ball inconsistently heading into her release. He stressed finding the same place with her palm first, then stepping into the rest of her shot, for which he emphasized "legs" and "up," or arch, on the ball.
-- Dan Shanoff, CNN/SI
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Brown, who was coached by Hall of Fame player Rick Barry, connected between games of the semifinal doubleheader, winning $1 million for herself and another $1 million donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
"I used a different routine Rick suggested yesterday," Brown said. "I used to dribble before shooting, but he had me bend my legs and shoot it without dribbling."
Brown, who was informed Friday that she would be taking the shot, played three years as a point guard at Corona High School in Corona, Calif. Her mother, Cheryl James, won the sweepstakes and transferred the attempt to her daughter because of Brown's high school experience.
"Half of the money is going to my mom because it was her entry," Brown added. "She's the only one keeping me sane right now."
Brown also said she would likely buy a new truck with her winnings.
The shot was taken at Hoop City, an NCAA promotion being held at the Tampa Convention Center in conjunction with the Final Four.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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