The grandson of the original Indiana Pacer is headed to the alma mater of another Pacers ABA great.
Hudson Mayes, Roger Brown’s grandson, has committed to New Mexico, where Mel Daniels — an “uncle” to Mayes — played collegiately.
The 6-5 guard averaged 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in his freshman season at UC-San Diego.
Roger Brown is the first player to sign with the Indiana Pacers
Brown joined the Pacers before the ABA’s inaugural season in 1967-68. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee played his first seven seasons for the Pacers, plus 10 more games in his final season. He averaged 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in helping Indiana win three league championships.
Mel Daniels becomes Hudson Mayes’ mentor
Mayes never met Brown, but Daniels — also a Hall of Famer and three-time ABA champ with the Pacers — kept up with Brown’s family. He walked Brown’s daughter down the aisle at her wedding and befriended Hudson, who called him “Uncle Mel.” At Daniels’ memorial in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 2015, an 8-year-old Hudson Mayes read a letter he had written to Daniels.
Hudson Mayes discusses his grandfather
Hudson Mayes recently discussed his upbringing. His father is Derrick Mayes, an Indianapolis native and former Notre Dame and NFL player.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Roger Brown’s grandson Hudson Mayes transfers to New Mexico basketball
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
