Buff & Blue Forever: Brandon Leftwich

Brandon Leftwich started his college basketball journey in 2016 as a manager under Head Coach Jamion Christian whose effervescent personality and boundless energy made him a natural fit running the Turkey Board as a hype man for defensive success.

"He was just amazing at it," Christian remembered, recently.

Eventually, Leftwich transitioned to helping Christian on the court as a scholarship student-athlete, and this season, the veteran guard savored his role, providing a sense of maturity, vocal leadership and of course, energy to the Buff and Blue, on and off the court, during an unprecedented season.

"I hope that me being a leader made things easier for him," Leftwich said. "Because he already knew that I knew what he wanted. I've known him for so long that I know the way he thinks, so I tried to be a step ahead."

After graduating from Mount St. Mary's last spring, Leftwich jumped at the chance for a reunion with Christian to be part of the coach's continued build in Foggy Bottom while starting work on his master's degree in Sports Management.

Leftwich's on-court stats – cameos in eight games with a total of four points in 19 minutes – belie his impact on the program, especially during such a trying winter amid the continued COVID-19 pandemic.

"Having someone like BLeft with that kind of enthusiasm and the way that he was taking care of his teammates and helping those guys out makes a huge difference," Christian said. "Every single day, he's giving you that energy that's not about himself but it's about the team. That's just so valuable."

Christian realized long ago that he'd found a kindred spirit in Leftwich, who grew up in Brooklyn immersed in hoops.

Leftwich credits his mother Michelle, a long-time NBA league executive and now Vice President of Salary Cap Administration for the Atlanta Hawks, for instilling a passion for a sport that's meant so much to him, boosted by a treasure trove of memories made during annual trips to NBA All-Star Weekend and more recently, the league's draft combine.

"Being able to be around that, I think that's what drove me to love basketball even more than just playing it," Leftwich said. "I just love basketball, period. I love watching it, love dissecting it."

Indeed, Leftwich's cerebral approach to the game and deep connection with Christian proved a boon for the Buff and Blue this season.

He knew what sort of workout to expect just by reading the practice plan and made sure to prep the rest of the Colonials before the coaches walked in the gym. Leading up to games, he carefully considered what message his teammates needed to hear, even practicing certain speeches in his bathroom mirror.

Leftwich's care for everyone around him took on new meaning during the program's month-long break from game action due to COVID-19 concerns. He was a supportive sounding board and positive voice during an understandably difficult period.

When the Colonials finally returned to the court, Leftwich was a catalyst for an inspired performance in their 78-70 win over Rhode Island on Feb. 21 at Smith Center.

Leading up, Christian told Leftwich that he'd need him to be ready for anything with a short bench, and the guard proceeded to answer the call.

Leftwich provided the assist on a go-ahead 3-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer before entering in the final minute and sinking two free throws that helped the home team clinch an emotional victory.

All the while, he provided his signature spark to energize the fan-less arena. In one memorable scene with the game in the balance, he implored his teammates, "You gotta love it!"

"Just being able to get in the game, make an impact, score some points, get an assist, be loud, throw a fist pump, that's everything that I wanted," Leftwich said. "I'm not here to play 25 minutes nor can my body take that anymore. I was just hyped to be in the game for a little bit and make a positive impact on our team."

Going forward, Leftwich wants to build a career in the game, and he's eager to use the next year to explore what will provide the best fit, whether that's coaching, scouting or something else.

As he finishes work on his master's degree, Leftwich plans to serve as a graduate assistant under his mentor in 2021-22. Christian is grateful that he'll continue to have a positive impact on the program while he figures out the next step.

"He's just going to make any group of people he steps into better, no matter what he's doing," Christian said. "Whether he's playing basketball or whatever it is, he just makes everyone around him better. I think you need people like that in your life."

Leftwich believes the foundation is in place for a bright future in Foggy Bottom, and he's excited about the chance to work on staff under the guy whom he calls "the best coach I've ever had" while helping the Buff and Blue keep building toward lofty goals.

"One thing that Coach has really instilled in me since I was a freshman is you want to leave something better than it was when you got there," Leftwich said. "I know GW is trying to make its way back to being one of the best teams in the A-10, and I want to be here for that. However I can help, I just want to make sure that we get back where we need to be."

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