The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1513610
TRACKING THE PACK JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 13 Triple-doubles are nothing new for Zoe Brooks. The Wolfpack women's basketball point guard recorded one less than a year ago while playing for Holmdel (N.J.) St. John Vianney High. She put up 25 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a Jan. 16 matchup with Newington (Conn.) High. Since that day, Brooks has been named a McDonald's All-American, enrolled at NC State and carved out a significant role in the offense. The true freshman guard has started multiple games due to an injury to junior Saniya Rivers, and even when the team is fully healthy, Brooks is often the first player coming off the bench for the Wolfpack. Through the team's first 11 games of the season, she was averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Following a 90-35 nonconference vic- tory over Elon on Nov. 15, Brooks reflected on her transition from high school to col- lege. "The game is definitely a lot faster," she said. "Every possession counts. But every day, I feel like I'm getting better, and every game is a different competition." Brooks continues to adapt to her in- creasingly prominent role. She learned during warmups for NC State's game against Liberty on Dec. 10 that she would be making her first collegiate start. She responded by playing her best game of the season. In NC State's 80-67 victory over the Flames, she totaled 14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. "In college, obviously a triple-double is a lot bigger than middle school or high school," Brooks said after the game. "It was very exciting." It was only the second triple-double in program history. Brooks joined Tynesha Lewis, who accomplished the statistical feat in 2001. NC State head coach Wes Moore complimented the guard's perfor- mance after the game. "She did a great job of running the team, and for the most part, taking care of the ball," Moore said. "And then she goes in there and gets 11 rebounds to lead us in rebounds. … Just a great all-around game." Brooks has shown she can score inside and out. The 5-foot-10 freshman can fin- ish at the rim while also knocking down threes. Through 11 games, Brooks was one of five Wolfpack players with double-digit scoring averages. The other four — Riv- ers, junior guard Aziaha James, graduate center River Baldwin and senior guard Madison Hayes — are all upperclassmen. "They're great leaders," Brooks said. "I look up to all of them, and they're a good example for me and what I want to be when I'm their age one day." Even when her shots aren't falling, Brooks is able to make a significant im- pact on the game as a passer. In eight of NC State's first 11 games, she dished out 3 or more assists. "When I pass the ball to my teammates, seeing them make the shot helps me a lot," Brooks said. Following her triple-double perfor- mance against Liberty, she earned her first ACC Freshman of the Week accolade, and she also was saluted as the nation's top freshman by the United States Bas- ketball Writers Association. Brooks signed with the Pack in the 2023 recruiting cycle as ESPN's No. 9 recruit in the country, joining three fellow top- 100 prospects — guard Laci Steele, center Mallory Collier and forward Maddie Cox. — Ethan McDowell STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH FRESHMAN GUARD ZOE BROOKS Through NC State's first 11 games, Brooks was fourth on the team with a 10.1-point scoring average. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS