Brew uses solid season as spring board

The 2006-07 basketball season was an eventful one for William Brew and the St. Mary's Panthers of Berkeley (Calif). Brew averaged 15 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and helped lead St. Mary's to a 29-5 record, Bay Shore Athletic league title, North Coast Section championship and NorCal finals appearance.

For his efforts, the 6-foot-3 guard was an All-Norcal third team selection as well as being named to the All-State junior and Div. IV squads. Now with the basketball season over, Brew is showcasing his talent as the point guard for the Oakland Soldiers I club team.

"Playing the point guard spot alongside good players such as 6-9 post Drew Gordon and 6-6 wing Collin Chiverton will be fun," said Brew. "I will have the opportunity to play with a real big man in Drew and set other people up on my team."

Carl Foster, the director of basketball operations for the Oakland Soldiers, says Brew's game reminds him of a young Lester Conner, a former guard at Oregon State, who went on to play in the NBA for a variety of teams.

"Will Brew is tough, aggressive and physical," said Foster. "He has a great body and loves to get after it defensively. He makes a series of little plays that will help you win a game. He is the type of kid that will sacrifice himself for the betterment of the team."

Playing with Chiverton, Gordon, 6-foot-8 forward Matt Simpkins and others on a loaded team, will help to raise the stature of Brew, who is already known by a number of college coaches on the west coast. Schools looking at Brew include Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Pepperdine, St. Mary's, San Francisco and LMU. Nevertheless, he wants other schools to follow him through the spring and summer, so his recruitment can grow.

"My recruitment is open right now," said Brew. "I am open to anybody."

While he is open, Brew would like to stay on the West Coast and play, but that is not 100 percent firm.

"I want to go somewhere that is warm, has a great environment and a place with good team chemistry," continued Brew.

Brew's father, William Brew Sr., a former college basketball player at Oregon State and teammate of Conner in the early 1980s, said team play is something he stresses with his son. It is in that type of environment that he wants his son.

"Will needs to go and play for a coach that plays the style of basketball that is conducive to his talent," said Brew Sr. "A team that puts an emphasis on defense, team basketball and getting up and down the floor."

In analyzing Brew's game, he is a heady guard, who has a nice feel for the game and the ability to make plays with his passing and defensive ability.

Foster says that Brew "is a very smart risk taker in the passing lanes and he also rebounds the ball well for a guard." Offensively, Brew's game is evolving and getting better, as he is starting to knock down the open jump shot consistently, said Foster.

Brew and the Oakland Soldiers enjoyed only limited success at the Kingwood Classic tournament in Houston last weekend but have an opportunity to redeem themselves starting this Saturday as they travel to Las Vegas for the Double Pump Spring Classic.