Deaf Player Pushes Providence Past Michigan

From: New York Post - New York,NY,USA - Nov 27, 2004

By LENN ROBBINS

November 27, 2004 -- Providence 72Michigan 63

Dwight Brewington realized one of his dreams last night.

After Providence beat Michigan, 72-63, in the consolation game of the Preseason NIT in the Garden, Brewington and coach Tim Welsh got the ESPN treatment: Lights, camera, postgame interview.

"My dreams aren't over yet," Brewington said. "I've got big dreams."

Brewington is deaf, but his play this year has been loud and clear. He tied a career-high by scoring a game-high 23 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists.

A sophomore from Lynn, Mass., Brewington is averaging 20 points for the Friars (4-1), who play Florida tonight in a get-ready-for-the-NCAA tournament schedule. Last season he averaged 5.7 points, struggled academically, and was so frustrated by his play he considered transferring.

One problem: His mother, Pamela Harrison, didn't raise a quitter, deaf or not. She realized Brewington was deaf when he was about eight months old. Now he bears a tattoo on his arm that reads, "My Dream is Big Enough the Facts Don't Count."

The fact Brewington is deaf doesn't count. His dream is to be the first deaf player in the NBA. At 6-foot-5, a lean 195 pounds, Brewington, who made the NIT All-Tournament team, goes to the rim like a puppy rampaging through Petco.

"I think Dwight has always had the ability," Welsh said. "But you've got to hone your skills and be patient. He wasn't patient last year, and that's fine. It's not unusual that most freshmen are not. But he knows he has a lot of talent and he has to make sure he keeps working to improve."

The Friars are doing everything to help Brewington. He has a personal tutor to help him in class, and the Friars have hand signals for every play they run. They also have Ryan Gomes (11 points, 13 rebounds), who is the first player opposing teams look to stop.

"He's a nice second option behind an All-American," Welsh said of Brewington. "That's for sure."

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