By Nick Eatman

There have been plenty of players, in many sports, to have claimed first-team all-conference and honorable mention in their careers.

            It just doesn't usually occur in the same school season.

            But there are exceptions to every rule and Southeastern Oklahoma standout Destiny Brown is now one of them.

            The two-sport star is not only an all-conference pick in both volleyball and basketball, but she's now hoping to lead the Savage Storm to an LSC tournament championship in Bartlesville.

            It's been quite a journey for Brown, a Stillwater, Okla. native who originally went to the University of Texas-San Antonio on a Division I scholarship for basketball. But it didn't take long for a homesick Brown to find her way back to Oklahoma and closer to home.

            And for about a week, it appeared she would follow in her brother's footsteps at Central Oklahoma in Edmond, where her brother Anthony Brown was a star basketball player from 2003-05.

            Still, Destiny Brown never quite settled in, so she was on the move again.

            For her, the third place was a charm as she has not only landed in Durant, Okla., but is thriving.

            "I don't regret anything I do. Everything I had to do to get here, it's made me a better person," Brown said. "And I love being here. The people are great. It's been a great experience."

The attraction to play both volleyball and basketball lured her to SOSU where she isn't just contributing for two sports, but starring.

            Brown was recently named a first-team All-LSC North Division pick for basketball, where she leads the conference in rebounding at 11.6 per game, but was fifth in scoring at 15.5 points per contest.

            Her head coach, Darin Grover, said both are equally important.

            "Her stats speak for themselves," Grover said of Brown. "To have that many double-doubles, obviously, a lot of games she has carried us with that. Sometimes I don't know what's more important. Because if you get somebody who averages double-figures in rebounds, that's huge. Her offensive game has really come along more this year. She's really become a force on the blocks."

            In 28 games, Brown has 18 double-doubles, including a 26-point, 11-rebound effort in the Savage Storm's Wednesday's quarterfinal win over Angelo State.

            While Brown has been a model of consistency, she knows it's not easy. Therefore, she credits her teammates for providing a balanced attack that has helped Southeastern to a 21-7 record this season.

            "I have to try to be on my game every night. But that's not always realistic. But our team is really good. Even when one person isn't on their game, we've got enough people to step up and pick up the slack. We all help each other out."

            The only time Brown admits she needs some help was early in the season when she was converting from volleyball, where she was an honorable mention selection this past season.

            "Volleyball and basketball shape are totally different," Brown said. "It keeps my mind in it. When I get to basketball, I'm already focused on winning and trying to get to the playoffs. But yeah it takes me a couple of weeks to get into it. I get a slow start a little bit."

            Not that slow, according to Grover.

            She comes in and really doesn't struggle much at all. Maybe there were a couple of games that she wasn't a big part of. But after that, she's started ever since. She gets back into shape really quick. She's just been a great player for our team."

            Not to mention, the volleyball squad as well.