PHILADELPHIA , PA. —DeWayne Brown has become one of Tennessee’s biggest surprises this season, but his mother, April Dickerson, said his emergence as a freshman forward is not something that caught her off guard.
“I’ll be honest, it doesn’t surprise me,” Dickerson said. “But I’m thankful that he was able to showcase that and impress Coach Barnes. It’s just been absolutely amazing.”
Brown’s first season at Tennessee has included 10 starts, steady minutes, and a growing role on a team playing deep into March. For Dickerson, though, his rise is about more than basketball. It is the result of years of work, perspective, and support that helped shape who he is long before he arrived in Knoxville.
Dickerson has worked at the Ronald McDonald House of Alabama for more than two decades, supporting families whose children are dealing with illness or medical crises. Because she was able to bring her children with her, Brown and his sister, Madison, spent time in an environment that exposed them to families facing difficult circumstances.
“He was able to interact with kids who had medical struggles,” Dickerson said. “He learned that even though we all look different, we’re all in the same boat.”
Brown said those experiences stayed with him.
“It kept me grounded,” Brown said. “Realizing that everybody has struggles that maybe I don’t have, but it’s still possible to get through things like that.”
Dickerson said that perspective helps explain why Brown is now pursuing a degree in psychology, the same field she studied, and why she believes he has always been drawn to understanding other people.
“He’s that kid who wants to talk to you, understand you, and love on you,” Dickerson said.
That outlook followed Brown into the classroom and onto the court. At Hoover High School in Alabama, Dickerson said he often was recognized for his character as much as his play.
“So many of his friends, family, and other students absolutely love and adore him,” she said.
Still, Brown’s path was not without challenges.
Dickerson said Brown struggled at times with his weight early in high school and was told he needed to take conditioning more seriously if he wanted to keep progressing as a basketball player. From there, she said, his routine changed.
“Dwayne struggled with his weight a bit, but in his last two years of high school, he really focused,” Dickerson said.
Brown said the process was demanding, but it became part of his growth as a player.
“It was definitely a fun process, but it was a lot of hard work,” Brown said. “I used to wake up at like 5:00 a.m., run before practice, go through practice, work out after school. It was just a lot of work. But I’m glad my mom did that for me.”
Dickerson said she meal-prepped for him, while Brown committed himself to early mornings, late nights, and extra work in the gym.
“I meal-prepped everything for him,” Dickerson said. “He was in the gym at 5:00 a.m., sometimes shooting late at night.”
Brown said the people around him helped shape the way he approached that stretch of his life.
“My family, my mom, my sister, my coaches, they just kept telling me how great I could be and pushed me to be better for myself,” Brown said. “That carried over. I got really determined, really passionate, and I wanted to go far in it.”
Dickerson said those years helped reveal Brown’s mindset and made it easier for her to support him.
“It’s mind-blowing,” she said. “He did all the hard work, which made supporting him easy.”
The relationship between mother and son remained at the center of that journey. Dickerson said she spent time rebounding for Brown in the gym and watching his commitment take shape up close.
“I was in the gym with him, rebounding,” she said. “It showed how relentless he is.”
That support has followed him to Tennessee, where Dickerson said she has missed only a handful of games this season. Brown said hearing his mother in the stands still means something.
“It’s definitely amazing seeing your mom in the stands,” Brown said. “I can always hear her cheering me on.”
For Dickerson, the pride she feels now is not limited to basketball. She also pointed to Brown’s sister, Madison, who recently earned her real estate license.
“I’m very thankful,” Dickerson said. “This is a crazy world, and I’ve never had to worry about my kids. I’m extremely proud of both of them.”
For all that Brown has done as a freshman, Dickerson said what matters most is not only the player he is becoming, but the person he has become.
