The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499505
JUNE/JULY 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 39 2023 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CLAYTON SAYFIE M ichigan basketball has its sec- ond commitment in the 2024 class, with Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central three-star point guard Durral "Phat Phat" Brooks making his pledge known May 14. Brooks chose the Maize and Blue over Big Ten rival Michigan State, Butler, Dayton and others. The top-rated player in the state, Brooks is the No. 117 overall pros- pect and 19th-best point guard nationally per the On3 Industry Ranking. His relationship with lead re- cruiter Saddi Washington and head coach Juwan Howard has grown strong after several visits during the last two years. "I love Saddi. He's a main reason why I committed," the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder told The Wolverine at his high school. "How they in- teract with my family, it feels more like family, especially with my little brother, Jaceyon [9 years old]. "Other schools interact with him, but they don't interact with him like Coach Saddi and Coach How- ard do. Jaceyon is kind of shy when you first meet him, but he didn't have a mo- ment where he was shy with them. "It'll be great playing for Coach How- ard, especially because he has a lot of energy when he coaches, and he's a peo- ple person, just like me. "It's not all about basketball with him, either. He likes to do stuff with kids, get out, interact with fans. I think it'll be good playing for him. "I would say it just feels more like family than coaches. We have a great connection and great relationship." Brooks also shares a bond with fellow Grand Rapids native and former Michi- gan guard Kobe Bufkin, who's a projected first-round pick in this summer's NBA Draft. The two grew up playing together. "I didn't really expect him to stay the whole four years," Brooks said. "Obvi- ously, I wanted to play with him, but it's good for him that he got the opportunity to go to the NBA." Brooks was still able to glean a lot from Bufkin's time at Michigan. The guard had an up-and-down freshman season but was said to be the team's hardest-working player last spring and summer, before he broke out and earned third-team All-Big Ten accolades. "I saw how he worked, and I saw how much work has to be put in to be in a position like that. I feel like I'll take it very personally and work very hard when I get there," Brooks said, noting that in-state products can have a deeper connection with Michigan. Brooks earned Division II first- team all-state honors from the As- sociated Press the past two seasons. He helped his squad to back-to- back appearances in the state finals his first two years, including the program's first-ever championship in 2021. "Defense, trying to bring energy, trying to get my team involved," Brooks said of his strengths. "I feel like I can still improve. And rebounding is a good part of my game, too." Brooks averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game for his team, which posted a 16-7 record in 2022- 23. He hit on 37 percent of his tries from three-point range but didn't attempt many shots from beyond the arc. He scored a career-high 43 points in a win over Wayland (Mich.) High in January, shooting 16-of-22 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free throw line, without attempting a triple. As a sophomore, he averaged around 13 points and 6.5 assists per game. While his jump shot isn't a finished product (he says it's his No. 1 area of focus this offseason), Brooks is stellar at scoring in deep. "Just playing up a grade my whole life, I had to be strong, had to learn how to get my team involved and had to get to the rim," he said. He'll fit in well with U-M and the col- lege game, Catholic Central head coach TJ Meerman said. "My description of Phat's game is it's 'smooth,'" Meerman explained. "When he plays defense and he's running with one of the fastest point guards in the state, he never looks frazzled on the floor." There's been a long line of successful point guards at Michigan, and Brooks is excited to be next in line. ❏ Michigan Lands Top In-State 2024 Prospect Durral Brooks Brooks averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as a junior at Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central last season. He is rated the No. 117 overall player and 19th-best point guard nationally per the On3 Industry Ranking. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND PLAYER EVALUATION "He needs to tighten the jump shot, be more consistent there, which will open up his entire game. But he is a physical guard with good length. At 6-1 or 6-2, he uses a crafty change of pace to touch the paint. While he lacks top-end burst, he plays with confidence and his head up. "Brooks can absorb contact in the paint, getting his body into the defender and creating angles. He gives effort on defense, guarding the ball and the passing lanes. He is best defending the ball in the half court rather than the open floor. "He is at his best with the ball, when he is able to get into the paint. He's a good passer in traffic and in the pick and roll." — On3 national basketball recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw