Lewis Brown, Verbum Dei basketball legend, passes away

By Jason Lewis
Sentinel Sports Editor
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Lewis Brown, who was once called the most dominant high school basketball player in the Southern Section’s history, passed away of a heart attack.  He was 56.

Brown was named Southern Section 4-A player of the year in 1972 and 1973, as he led Verbum Dei to three 4-A championships and an overall record of 88-4.

At 6-foot-11, Brown dominated high school basketball, and he played college basketball for coach Jerry Tarkanian at UNLV.  Brown helped them to a 102-16 record over the course of his career there, and they reached the Final Four in 1977.

Brown never became the big NBA star that a lot of people thought that he would have been.  He ended up playing professional basketball in France and the Philippines.  His only NBA action was when he signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Bullets in 1981.

Drugs became a major problem in Brown’s life, and he spent the past 10 years living on the streets in Hollywood. 

Funeral services for Brown will be held on Thursday at St. Albert the Great Church, 804 E. Compton Blvd., Compton, at noon.

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