Stephen Brown started high school at Marist three years ago as the top freshman basketball player in Chicago. That’s not even a mixed blessing. It isn’t a blessing at all. It’s usually too much for a kid to handle.
“He was 13 years old, and people expected him to already be a wide receiver at Alabama and a two-guard at Duke,” Marist basketball coach Brian Hynes said. “It has been unbelievable pressure on him.”
On Monday, the first day of basketball practice around the state, Brown officially announced to the Sun-Times that he’s going to play football, not basketball, in college. Brown is a 6-7 receiver and has scholarship offers from Texas Tech, North Carolina State and others.
“I feel like [football] is my natural calling,” Brown said. “But that doesn’t take away from what I want to do in basketball this season. I want to win state.”
Brown was injured during the football season last year and only really looked like himself on the basketball court very late in the season. The RedHawks lost a heartbreaking sectional final in overtime to Rich at Rich.
“We are all still thinking about that game,” Hynes said. “We made an agreement that it is the screensaver on everyone’s phones.”
The taste of playoff success made an impression on Marist’s talented class of 2026.
“You learn some lessons from it,” Vassilakis said. “When you have a lead you can’t give it up. You have to hit shots in the clutch, especially free throws. But that’s over. We can’t live in the past. This is a new season.”
Marist’s football team didn’t make the playoffs this season, so Brown had plenty of time to get focused on basketball.
“This will definitely be a special year,” Brown said. “I have my confidence, and everything is going right. Our goal is to win state and we have the players to do it.”
Starting guards TJ Tate and Adoni Vassilakis also return for Marist. Karson Thomas, Ryan Lawlor and 6-5 junior Kendall Myers were major contributors last season as well.
The RedHawks picked up a significant addition in 6-6 senior Charles Barnes, who transferred from De La Salle. Thomas transferred in last year from Lincoln-Way East.
In the past, Marist saw talented upperclassmen transfer away to other programs. Now, the school has become a destination.
“It’s the foundation [Hynes] has built,” Vassilakis said. “He built a really good culture. Everyone feels welcome. That transfer stuff is when teams don’t get along. We don’t have that here. We love coming every day. It’s a very good environment for all of us.”
This is Hynes’ fifth year as head coach at Marist. He’s 97-30, but this is his most talented team so far and one of the most talented in school history. The RedHawks haven’t won a sectional since 1981 and have never advanced to state.
“We are going to talk about state once,” Hynes said. “And then we are going to enjoy the process and take things day by day and not let the noise get to us.”
Marist is one of the deepest teams in the state. Brown expects big things from several of his lesser-known teammates, including juniors Matthew Green and Jayden Bullock.
Hynes believes Brown will play looser and freer this season now that the basketball vs. football decision is over.
“It’s been a growing-up process,” Hynes said. “I even learned a lot from him, watching a 13-year-old go through all of that. He’s very mature now, and he makes hustle plays that very few kids can make. And he’s a great teammate.”
@michaelsobriensports It is the first day of basketball practice across the state. Marist forward Stephen Brown made some news. The 6-7 senior will play football in college. #ihsa #marist #basketball #chicago ♬ original sound – michaelsobriensports