BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Rick Barnes wasn’t sure what to expect from DeWayne Brown II when he arrived at Tennessee last year.
Now, entering his 12th season with the Volunteers, Barnes considers the sophomore forward one of the most important pieces of his program.
“He was the biggest surprise,” Barnes told Full Disclosure in a one-on-one interview at SEC Media Days in Birmingham.
Brown’s impact became increasingly evident as Tennessee’s coaching staff reviewed film following last season.
“We go back and at the end of the season when we start putting together, looking at our clips and highlights, I mean, he was in almost all the great highlight plays,” Barnes said.
That production made Brown a priority when Tennessee began rebuilding its roster.
“He’s the one guy for certain that we wanted to retain from a year ago,” Barnes said.
But Brown’s value extends beyond his contributions on the court.
With only two returning players, Tennessee needed someone who understood Barnes’ expectations and could help establish those standards within a new roster.
Brown embraced that responsibility.
“I knew when everybody was leaving that I was going to come back and I was going to be the only returner,” Brown told Full Disclosure.. “I knew I was going to have to step up and take that role.”
His decision to stay was never particularly difficult.
Brown said conversations with Barnes and the coaching staff reinforced his commitment to Tennessee. After a promising freshman season, he wanted the opportunity to build on that foundation.
“Tennessee is like the place where I wanted to be,” Brown said. “I never really had a feeling that I wanted to leave.”
His influence is already being felt by his new teammates.
For transfer guard Terrence Hill Jr., Brown has become a source of reassurance while adjusting to Barnes’ demanding coaching style.
In a conversation with Full Disclosure, Hill recalled spending time at Brown’s house during the summer when his teammate offered some advice.
“He’s going to be hard on you. You’re his point guard, so he’s going to be hard on you the most,” Hill recalled Brown telling him.
But Brown’s support didn’t stop there.
“He’s never shied away from talking to me like, ‘You’re good. I still believe in you. We all still believe in you,'” Hill said. “He’s always just been that safety blanket for me.”
That leadership reflects what Barnes values most about Brown.
“He works hard every day. He’s very consistent. It’s never about him,” Barnes said.
Those qualities also reflect something Barnes has long emphasized in recruiting: the importance of bringing good people and families into his program.
Brown’s mother, April Dickerson, made the trip to Birmingham for SEC Media Days after speaking with Barnes the day before.
“April’s such a wonderful mom and been very supportive of us,” Barnes said. “And she’s obviously a proud mom, which she should be.”
Her presence offered another glimpse into the relationships Barnes values beyond basketball.
Still, the Tennessee coach believes Brown has another step to take in his own development.
“We want him to start seeing himself in a different light because he can do more than he thinks he can,” Barnes said.
Brown acknowledges that Barnes’ trust in him has grown, but he doesn’t consider his development complete.
“I still got to figure out how to build that,” Brown said. “Still got to figure out how to play up to his expectations.”
As Tennessee works to establish an identity with a largely new roster, Brown is helping carry forward the culture Barnes has spent more than a decade building.
And for a player who arrived as an unexpected contributor, that responsibility may be his most significant impact yet.
