Fil- Am Jason Brickman made history in the NCAA; next Filipino big star in the collegiate ranks after Fil-German Michael Standhardinger

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While Filipino basketball fans are busy cheering for Fil-German Michael Standhardinger in the US NCAA, another player with Filipino blood suddenly emerged.


On March 1, 2014, in his final college game, Long Island University Blackbirds’ Jason Brickman became only the fourth men’s player in Division I history to collect 1,000 career assists, finishing with 1,009.


He joined former Duke star Bob Hurley, who ranks no. 1 in all-time assists with 1,076, NC State’s Chris Corchiani (1,038) and North Carolina’s Ed Cota (1,030).

Brickman, whose mother was born in the Philippines, also became the first Division I men’s player to average double digits in points (11.3) and assists (10.0) since ex-San Antonio Spurs playmaker Avery Johnson did the feat while playing for Southern University back in the 1987-88 season.


Brickman led the NCAA in assists in his last two seasons and led LIU to the NCAA Tournament in his first three years before injuries to the team’s other key players hurt the Blackbirds’ chances of making it this year.

Breaking The Milestone

The 22-year-old Brickman hit the milestone at the 8:33 mark of the first half on a pass to Gerrell Martin for a 3-pointer, according to a report by ESPN.


Brickman wound up with 12 assists for the Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn Blackbirds during a 62-81 loss to Bryant Bulldogs Sunday (Manila time).

Brickman’s Filipino Roots

Jason Brickman was born on November 19, 1991 with his mother being a Filipina.


He plays the point guard position for the Long Island University Blackbirds. 

In the 2013–14 NCAA Division I season he is a senior who was considered one of the best passers in the nation in 2012–13, according to ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.

“He really understands angles very well. He gets the ball to (LIU’s) best players, and he does a really nice job of managing the game. An excellent passer.” Bilas said on Brickman.

Brickman’s NCAA Career

Brickman led NCAA Division I in assists per game as a junior with a 8.50 average. 

On February 17, 2014, Brickman was named one of the 23 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the best point guard in Division I men’s basketball.

Rookie Year

In the fall of 2010 Brickman began his collegiate career for Long Island. As a freshman in 2010–11 he averaged 5.5 assists per game, led the Northeast Conference (NEC) in total assists (180) and in assists-per-turnover ratio (2.81).The 180 assists were the fourth-highest season assist total in school history. He also helped lead Long Island to a berth in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, and in a first round loss to North Carolina, Brickman recorded eight assists and two steals. Then-head coach Jim Ferry claimed Brickman was the “John Stockton” to their team.


At the end of the season he was named the NEC Rookie of the Year by the NIT and Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association as well as being selected to the NEC All-Rookie and All-Tournament teams.

Sophomore Season

The Blackbirds earned a second consecutive berth to the NCAA Tournament behind Brickman and NEC Player of the Year Julian Boyd. Brickman’s 7.3 assists per game ranked fifth nationally while his 249 total assists set a new school record. 

He was chosen as a Second Team All-Conference performer while also repeating as an All-NEC Tournament selection; in the NEC championship, Brickman scored 18 points and dished out 11 assists against Robert Morris, thus clinching their automatic 2012 NCAA Tournament berth. Long Island lost to Michigan State in the first round.

Junior Season

Brickman led NCAA Division I in assists per game with an 8.50 average. He managed this despite Long Island losing reigning NEC Player of the Year Julian Boyd to an ACL injury in December 2012 that sidelined him for the entire season.


Standhardinger Made Filipino Fans Noticed 

A 24-year-old Filipino-German forward has emerged as a star for University of Hawaii, the same school that produced Meralco Bolts wingman Jared Dillinger.

His name is Christian Standhardinger.




Listed at 6-foot-8, Standhardinger averaged 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Rainbow Warriors last season en route to being named Most Outstanding Player on the team.

He has continued his fine showing this season, averaging 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in his first 13 games . He hit the game-winning shot in Hawaii’s 76-74 victory over the St. Mary’s Gaels last December 23. Two games later, he scored 29 and grabbed eight rebounds in a victory over Norfolk State last December 31.



Standhardinger Cited by Gilas

Standhardinger has been in the radar of Filipino scouts since 2009, when he was identified as a possible recruit for the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national program under coach Rajko Toroman.

Born in Munich to a German father and a Filipino mother (Liz Hermoso), Standhardinger began his foray into athletics by playing football as a kid. Later, he learned basketball during vacation in Los Angeles with his grandfather Pablo, who played the game in the Philippines.

He began his collegiate career at University of Nebraska, before early in his sophomore season.

After transferring to Hawaii, he told Warrior Insider website: “There are a lot of Filipino people here, I am happy about that.”

It remains to be seen, however, whether he will end up playing in the Philippines. As a youth player, he has already spent time with Germany’s junior national team.

Complications with his passport could also bar him from suiting up for Gilas in FIBA Asia tournaments, which require natural-born players to acquire a passport by the time they turn 16 years old. However, there’s no such requirement for non-FIBA Asia tournaments such as the Asian Games.

To join the PBA, he would also have to complete residency requirements, which means either suiting up for the national team or playing in the D-League for at least two conferences.


Fil-Foreign’s Success


Brickman and Standhardinger are just starting their basketball career but if they just work hard for it, expect that it will bare fruits.


Whomever the two of them become successful, expect Filipino fans to cheer for them and make them proud of our country.

Ed Umbao

Founder of PhilNews.xyz | co-Founder of PhilNews.ph

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