Knicks invite former Storm forward Justin Brownlee to training camp

St. John's basketball alumni Justin Brownlee has been invited to New York Knicks training camp, according to reports.

Brownlee, who has been trying to make an NBA roster since graduating in 2011, was added as the final member of the Knicks' 20-man training camp roster on Friday.  He has played with the team in the NBA summer league the past two seasons, averaging 4 points and 2.6 rebounds in five games this summer.

Source: Justin Brownlee (from St. John's) has been invited to #Knicks training camp. He's the final guy. Knicks now at 20 players for camp.

— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) September 27, 2013

A bruising forward, Brownlee is likely too undersized at 6-foot-7 to make the Knicks' regular season roster.  Yet it is encouraging to see that he is being recognized for his hard work to realize his dream.

On Thursday, the Knicks brought back former executive Steve Mills to assume general manager duties.  The team is reassigning Glen Grunwald, who served as the team's GM for the past two seasons, to an advisory position, according to ESPN.

Brownlee played two years at St. John's after transferring from Chipola College in 2009.  He averaged 12.3 points and five rebounds per game in 2010-11, as Brownlee greatly benefited from the program's addition of Steve Lavin.  The team made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years, much in thanks to Brownlee's contributions.

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