With the eighth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Development League Draft on Nov. 1, the Utah Flash selected former N.C. State standout Brandon Costner. After leaving the Wolfpack program with one year of eligibility remaining, the 6-foot-9-inch lefty went undrafted and opted to play overseas for a top Belgium team, Dexia Mons-Hainaut, where he averaged 9.5 points and 6 rebounds per game.
While the lifestyle transition from college to Europe poses a big challenge for many players, Costner, who spent time in France, Spain and Italy growing up, said the shift was not so daunting.
“I grew up overseas so it wasn’t that big of a shock for me,” Costner said. “I can see why a lot of people would have trouble with the transition because it’s a pretty big culture shock going from Raleigh to a country that speaks strictly French and Dutch.
“Adjusting to their culture and how they do things over there was a lot to handle, but overall it was a good experience.”
The season Costner played in Belgium’s D1 League exposed him to a different playing style—one that emphasizes skill rather than athleticism.
“Players [in Europe] are a lot more skilled but much less athletic, so it’s a completely different style of game,” Costner said. “The game is played at a slower pace and in order to be effective, you have to rely on your skill. Over here, it’s driven by athleticism and that’s why those players with a lot of skill are very successful here.”
Through his first four NBDL games, Costner is already using the experience gained overseas to good use, averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He has started every game this season and is the fifth-leading scorer for the Flash, the NBDL affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz.
Costner’s professional success should come as no surprise to Wolfpack fans. One thing the Montclair, N.J., native always had talent. As a highly-touted McDonald’s All-American out of Seton Hall Prep, Costner led the Wolfpack on a surprising run to the finals of the 2007 ACC Tournament, scoring a school-record 90 points along the way.
With the introduction of Sidney Lowe’s fast-paced offense the following season, as well as blue-chip prospect J.J. Hickson, expectations could not have been higher for Costner and the Wolfpack.
But sometimes expectations can be set too high. Costner’s production drastically dropped between his freshman and sophomore seasons from 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, to 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Such a sharp drop-off left many Pack fans wondering how such a promising player could regress so rapidly. Costner rebounded with a solid redshirt junior campaign, however, finishing as the Wolfpack’s leading scorer with 13.3 points and 6 rebounds per game.
Having already attained his degree from State, the forward chose not to return for his senior season and instead tried his luck in the NBA Draft where he went undrafted.
Although playing in the NBA has always been a goal of Costner’s, the NBDL serves as an opportunity for the former All-ACC freshman to catch the eye of NBA scouts and get a shot at his childhood dream.
“My goals are really to just continue to get better; continue to grow both as a person and as a player,” Costner said. “I’m really happy where I am right now and hopefully I’ll continue to grow and evolve.”
If basketball doesn’t work out, Costner says he wants to get involved in youth development and have a positive impact on the community. Costner has already had an impact on young players very familiar to the Wolfpack Faithful and said he continues to keep in touch with his former teammates.
“I still keep in touch with pretty much everybody I played with,” Costner said. “I know some of the new guys like Ryan [Harrow] and C.J. [Leslie]. But I try to keep up in touch with everybody.”
