It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

Just ask Marian's Brandon Mohammed.Mohammed's basketball transformation from a 5-10 freshman jump shooter to a 6-5 senior post player is proof.But Mohammed's story isn't about a growth spurt, a position switch or the ability to put the ball in the basket. It's about motivation, hard work and belief.Mohammed's first year of basketball at Marian provided him with instant motivation.His next three years featured plenty of hard work.But it was the belief in his abilities that brought everything together and turned him into the 2016-17 Times News Boys Basketball Player of the Year."I can't think of anyone more deserving," Marian coach John Patton said. "Brandon was dominant on the court and was a leader in the locker room."He embraced his role as our only returning starter and took ownership of the team, especially when we were struggling during a game or we were coming off a loss. That's when his leadership was most noticeable."Mohammed did a little bit of everything for the Colts this past season, leading the team in scoring (15.88 points per game), rebounding (14.0 per game), blocked shots (3.2 per game) and steals (1.6 per game). He also had an incredible 19 double-doubles.Those gaudy individual numbers, combined with the tremendous team success Marian had this season - 21-5 record, Schuylkill League Division 3 title, District 11 Class 2A championship - were part of a dream finish to Mohammed's career."I couldn't have asked for a better senior season," Mohammed said. "This is what you work for as a player. For our team to win two championships and for me to be able to contribute to that success, it's a dream come true."It was a great way to finish my high school career."But while the finish to his high school career was all that Mohammed could have hoped for, the start might not have been."When Brandon was a freshman, we pulled five of his classmates up to play JV ball and dress for varsity," recalled Patton. "Brandon stayed down on the freshman team and had a nice season."Back then, he was a perimeter player who relied on three-pointer shooting and slashing to the basket. We weren't very big on the JV or varsity that year so we needed to add a little size. The kids we brought up were all a little bigger and stronger than Brandon."The team player in Mohammed was happy for his classmates. But the competitor in Mohammed was fired up."Instant motivation," is how Mohammed described his reaction to not being considered one of the top players in his class."I wasn't mad at the coaches and I was happy for my classmates," he said. "But at the same time, I was determined to work as hard as I could and do everything in my power to make sure I wasn't going to be disappointed like that again. I had a lot of belief in my abilities."Mohammed's hard work paid dividends. His improved skills combined with an increase in height had him in the varsity starting lineup by the midway point of his sophomore season, where he averaged 7.0 points a game. A year ago as a junior, Mohammed battled some injuries and only played in 17 of the Colts' 23 games, averaging 9.0 points a contest.Heading into this season, the Colts were coming off back-to-back 11-12 seasons. Mohammed had been a solid contributor, but it hadn't been enough.Once again, Mohammed had some extra motivation."With my senior year approaching, I knew it was my last year to accomplish some of the things that I had set as goals when I was a freshman," Mohammed said. "I wanted to leave Marian with some championships, and I wanted to make sure that I did my part individually to make that a reality."I didn't set any goals for individual awards, because I knew that if the team was successful and I played up to my abilities, that would take care of itself."Mohammed was right. It definitely did."Being named player of the year is a great honor," Mohammed said. "There were so many other outstanding players on my own team and across the area."It's a great way to cap a special season. Finishing my career with team championships and individual awards is an amazing feeling."Finishing is something Mohammed knows a lot about.He has shown it with his ability to score around the basket.He has displayed it with his motivation to transform from a freshman afterthought to a senior star.He has proved it with his determination to go from a player that didn't even make honorable mention on an all-star team as a junior to being the Times News Player of the Year one season later.Brandon Mohammed has been the perfect example of why it's not how you start, it's how you finish.