By Kevin Brockway

For former Florida standout Corey Brewer, scoring 51 points in an NBA game for the Minnesota Timberwolves validated the progress he’s made in his pro career.

But Brewer would gladly trade that game for a chance to keep playing in the NBA playoffs. At 40-42, Minnesota failed to land one of the top eight seeds in the ultra-competitive Western Division.

“It was very disappointing because we didn’t make the playoffs,” Brewer said. “That’s why I came back here. The team we put together, it was a playoff team. We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

Brewer will return to Gainesville this summer to host his fifth annual Back 2 Back youth basketball camp from July 31-Aug. 2 at Buchholz High School. He’s added another camp in Ocala from July 28-30 at the Frank DeLuca YMCA. More information on both camps, which benefit the Corey Brewer Fight Diabetes Fund.

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Brewer’s breakout 51-point, six-steal performance April 11 against Houston put him in select company. He joined Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Rick Barry as the only players to record 51 points and six steals in an NBA game. With Minnesota’s top three scorers out, Brewer displayed his athleticism in the open court, making most of his 19 of 30 shots by twisting past defenders for transition baskets. For good measure, Brewer also added a 49-footer at the halftime buzzer.

“Everything was working,” Brewer said. “I’m not going to lie. It was one of those games where I felt like I could throw it from anywhere and it would go in. It was good to do it against a good team. The Houston Rockets are a playoff team, and my team won. So it can’t get better than that, 51 points and have my team win.”

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