Throughout her brilliant, but controversial basketball career, Tammy Brown has shown the ability to switch directions almost as quickly as she can switch hands on the dribble.
In the latest switch, Brown, an All-Metro selection and the 1990 Anne Arundel County Player of the Year at Broadneck High, has come full circle, signing a letter of intent to play at Maryland next season two years after leaving there.
"I always wanted to play in the ACC [Atlantic Coast Conference]. If I could stay at home and play for a top-five program, I figured, 'Why not?' " said Brown.
Brown, who led Broadneck to two straight Class 4A state championships, enrolled at Anne Arundel Community College last year, but did not play basketball, electing to concentrate on studies. She joined the team this season and is expected to be in the AACC starting lineup when play begins next month.
Brown has had a tempestuous career, from disagreements with coaches and teammates at Annapolis and Broadneck to a difference of opinion with Maryland coach Chris Weller, which caused Brown to leave College Park after being redshirted her freshman year.
The one constant has been Brown's ability to play basketball. She is the only girl at Broadneck to have scored more than 1,000 points in a career and she averaged 21.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists in her senior season. She had been playing in local women's leagues.
Brown has two years of collegiate eligibility, but will petition the NCAA for a third year.