Seniors Yarian and Brown say goodbye to storied Hillsdale career

Home Charger Men's Basketball Seniors Yarian and Brown say goodbye to storied Hillsdale career
Seniors Yarian and Brown say goodbye to storied Hillsdale career

The Hillsdale College men’s basketball team is saying goodbye to two men who have set numerous records for the program.

Fifth year senior forwards Austen Yarian and Tavon Brown have played their last games in Hillsdale Charger uniforms, leaving the college as two staples of the program for the past five years. 

“They both mean a great deal to me,” Head Coach John Tharp said. “The thing about those two guys in particular, they’re not your prototypical Hillsdale College students and I love that about them. I love who they are as people.” 

Brown said what first attracted him to the school was the education. 

“Before the basketball aspect, I really needed a great school, I wanted a great education,” Brown said. “So that was the first thing that attracted it to me, and then when I came for a visit, I loved the team, so the second part really got me hooked on Hillsdale.”

Yarian said the basketball family as a whole is why he came to Hillsdale. 

“They welcomed me in from my first visit when I was a senior in highschool and it felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself more so than any other place I had offers to,” Yarian said.

Both Yarian’s and Brown’s favorite memories came from their time making history with the team.

“One of my favorite memories from the team from this past season is, after winning the regional championship, celebrating in the locker room after the game,” Yarian said. “My favorite memory from my career would have to be the Greece trip we took this past summer.”

“Going to the Elite Eight will probably be forever my favorite memory here,” Brown said. “And then last year, going to the Sweet 16, just making history is something that I’ll never forget.”

Yarian and Brown leave the team in the best place the program’s ever been, making it to the NCAA Elite Eight a year after making it to the Sweet 16, each for the first time in program history. 

“It’s pretty amazing to be honest, I’m just proud to be a part of it,” Brown said. “I feel like I had a pretty big role with all of it and I know that we’ll come back in 20-25 years and I’ll really appreciate it.”

“Yeah, me and Tavon have had a great career here at Hillsdale,” Yarian said. “I just hope that we leave not our stats and accolades but a roadmap of what it takes to make it to this point and the work it takes to get here.”

Brown said he’s done with competitive basketball and plans to move to Illinois and become a real estate agent.  

“I used to want to play professionally overseas, but this summer I realized that I don’t know if my body can handle it and it’s such a big commitment that I didn’t know if I was really willing to make it for basketball,” Brown said. 

Yarian said he’s looking into playing overseas. 

“I’m in the process of hiring an agent and then I’ll go from there and see what jobs are available to me,” Yarian said. 

Tharp said he’s proud of both seniors for getting a Hillsdale College degree on top of their athletic success. 

“Tavon Brown has been one of the great teammates and great people I’ve coached in my 28 years,” Tharp said. “He just embodies what you hope your program is about. Austen, there’s been some academic highs and lows, there’s been a little of everything. And yet, he cares a great deal about the team. Number wise, 1000 point scorer, one of the better rebounders that we’ve had, top ten rebounder, so those statistics kind of speak for themself. Tavon guards anybody that we needed him to guard over the last three years.”

Brown said that during his time on the team, his relationship with Tharp has meant the world to him. 

“I went through some troubles early on, the first couple years here and he’s had my back the entire way,” Brown said. “He’s just been a great mentor for me and great coach and great leader in every aspect of my life. I just appreciate him for really being a genuine person and just loving me for who I am.”

Yarian echoed the sentiment, saying his head coach is one of the greatest men he’s ever met. 

“He’s straight forward but also loving and a great role model,” Yarian said. “He would go to battle for each and every one of us and I think that shows with how we compete day in and day out for coach, and what we’re willing to do for him because of what he does for us. He took me in as a young immature freshman and not only molded me into the basketball player I am today but the man and I’ll forever be grateful for him and everything he does.”

Tharp said it’s hard after a season ends because “you know your program structure is never going to be the same.” 

“We’ve been through some things together, and one of the proudest moments of my life is when those two have their names called on graduation and walk across that stage,” Tharp said.