Ja'Cory Brown.

BELLEVILLE — Belleville East's Ja’Cory Brown was a key basketball and football standout for the Lancers in 2025-2026.

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Brown, a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged in double figures for Belleville East on the hardwood, was a tight end/linebacker in football.

“We played in a really tough conference,” Brown said of the Southwestern Conference. “There aren't any bad teams in our conference. We play tough games all season long in both football and basketball."

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Brown continued and said: “We have many more opportunities to show we’re a top team in the state in the conference.”

Brown said continued work in practice and attention to detail are vital to be successful as a basketball and football player for positive game results.

“You have to do the little things right, also,” Brown said. “Those things count, diving on the floor, boxing out, rebounding, closing out, all that type of stuff.”

Brown also offered encouragement to his teammates in both sports at Belleville East.

“I just want to shout out to my guys on my teams,” Brown said. "It has been an honor to play on both Belleville East's football and basketball teams."

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