Auburn, ME – The Central Maine Athletic Department and head men's basketball coach Dave Gonyea is pleased to announce 6'5" Bailey Brown, a 2018 graduate of Meridan State College in Caloundra, Australia has signed on to play for the Mustangs next year.  

According to Coach Gonyea, "we are thrilled Bailey has made this decision and CM will be a better program because of it.  On the court, he gets up and down, plays hard, rebounds well, and, off the court is a solid kid.   We have spent a fair amount of time with him and his family over the past few months getting to know them and I think all of us have a comfort level that sets Bailey up for success. 

Bailey responded to the questions below:

 CM: Why did you choose CM?

Bailey: The reason for me choosing to play with the CM Mustangs was mainly due to coach Dave Gonyea. He made me feel so welcome and believed in me as a player. When we initially spoke on the phone, he was telling me about his plans for the upcoming season and I felt an instant connection. Coach Dave really stressed that the CM Mustang team have a 'family' connection and the playing support network was very strong.  I have spoken with a few of the players and some fellow Aussies from CM and listening to their positive experiences, I could see myself playing basketball as a Mustang!  I am extremely grateful to have Coach Dave's support, and he has gone above and beyond to make this happen.

 CM: What did you like most about the campus?

Bailey: I have not physically been to CM but from what I have seen on the internet and heard from Coach Dave and the players the campus is fantastic.  I love the 'small community' feeling and their facilities look state of the art.  Being a small college and having small class sizes also appealed to me.

CM: How do you think playing college basketball will differ from your previous experience?

Bailey: I believe it is going to be a much more physical and faster paced game with a lot more added aggression compared to the level of competition in Australia. I've played in a couple of AAU tournaments and attended an exposure camp in the States last year which gave me the experience of what it is like to play in the U.S.  I'm extremely focused and I love playing a fast-paced game.  After following the CM Mustang's last season, I can definitely see myself adapting to their style of play.

 CM: What are you most looking forward to about attending and playing basketball at CM?

Bailey: I am really looking forward to being coached by Coach Dave.  His wealth of experience is extensive, and I am so excited to play basketball for CM and improve my skills and become a better player and version of myself.  I know I am going to meet some amazing people along the way and create life-long friendships. To be studying as a physical fitness specialist at CM is something I am also looking forward to.

CM: What do you think you can bring to the team next year?

Bailey: As a player, I believe I can bring many things to the CM team. I'm ready to put in 110% effort and hard work by training and playing my absolute hardest. I'm extremely coachable, and I ultimately want to be pushed beyond my capabilities to further improve the player I am. I also consider myself a great team player that actively encourages my teammates both on and off the court.  I believe that support, encouragement, and team bonding are the core bones of any team.  Developing a great foundation of teamwork is crucial for all players to progress and play great basketball.

CM: Describe your basketball experience.

Bailey: I've been playing competitive basketball for approximately 7 years now.   It's fair to say that basketball is a huge part of my life.  I've played at a representative level in the Sunshine Coast region for the past 5 years. I was awarded MVP for the past 3 seasons.   I currently play for the Sunshine Coast Phoenix Basketball Association and I'm about to commence the QLD Southern Basketball League season in the coming weeks and play in the Phoenix Heat team.   I'm hoping this level of basketball will be a great pre- season for me before I head over to become a CM Mustang.

CM: What is your biggest strength in basketball?

Bailey: I believe that my biggest strength is my perseverance and determination to always improve on my game and actively contribute as a team player.  Without these attributes, I would not be the player I am today.  I cannot wait to hit the basketball court as a Mustang at CM and play alongside my team mates doing what I love.

 Basketball Achievements    

 I was selected as a Junior Developmental Player in 2017 for the Sunshine Coast Phoenix Basketball Association.  This enabled me to play and train alongside some talented NBL players in the Queensland Basketball League.  This experience gave me the opportunity to grow and play/train at a much higher level. I really enjoyed being a part of this team and it took me to the next level of basketball.

• MVP for the 2015/16, 2016/17 and the 2017/18 representative basketball seasons.
• Caloundra Basketball Men's team: 17.86ppg, 12rpg, 7asp, 2spg, 2bpg.
• Captain and MVP for Meridan State College basketball team consecutively in 2015,16,17,18.
• Currently an assistant coach with the Caloundra Heat junior development basketball for the Super Hooper's program, which I really enjoy.  I am also a head coach for an under 12 boys' team which play weekly.  I get so much reward out of training the 'grass roots' of the basketball association and love seeing them grow as players.