The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520409
JUNE/JULY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 33 2024 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE As a senior, the point guard averaged 27.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game, with all of those marks leading his squad. For a career, his 1,661 points and 217 steals are the most by any player in Catholic Central history. "He was phenomenal," his coach added. NEVER A DOUBT Brooks committed to Michigan in May 2023 under former head coach Juwan Howard, who was fired following an 8-24 campaign in 2023-24, but the point guard didn't waver in his pledge. U-M brought in new head man Dusty May, who met with Brooks and Meerman in his office March 26, the same day as the coach's introductory press conference. "We just talked about his past, his coaching style," Brooks explained. "He talked about what kind of player I was. He talked about his family; we talked about my family. We talked a little bit of real es- tate stuff. It was less basketball and more trying to get to know each other a little bit. "It was definitely good meeting him. He's one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. He seems like a positive guy. Obviously, a great coach, went to the Final Four two years ago. I'm excited to con- tinue to get to know him and see where things go." Brooks grew up a Michigan fan and first thought he could be a Wolverine player when he was in the seventh grade. Despite the program's uncertainty, he didn't have any reservations about sticking with his commitment. "Say I did go to a different school: I'm going to have to get to know a bunch of new coaches anyway," Brooks remarked. "And it's not like Dusty's a bad guy, a bad coach. It's not like he doesn't have win- ning records. So, no, it wasn't really a thought in my mind to go anywhere else." BROOKS 'VERY EXCITED' FOR MOVE TO ANN ARBOR A three-star recruit and the No. 169 overall player and No. 8 combo guard in the country, per the On3 Industry Rank- ing, Brooks has improved his game. The athletic guard has always thrived driving and either scoring at the rim or dumping it off to teammates. His jump shot has come along, and he took more open looks instead of forcing a drive this past season, due in part to the knee injury. "I had to adjust," Brooks explained. "I feel like that will better me for college, be- cause obviously in college, you can't just keep going down the paint with 7-foot, 6-10, or 6-11 guys. It was just teaching me to adjust to different situations that will come at any given time." "He definitely shot the ball a lot better," Meerman added. Brooks is also a high-level defender, exerting a great deal of energy on that end of the floor. "In college, if you can't play defense, you won't play at all, and I guess it's just a pride thing," Brooks said. The next chapter is almost here, and Brooks is thrilled for it. "I'm really excited, just because it's an- other step from high school basketball to college basketball," he said. "The fan base will grow, the parents will see me on TV. I'm sure that will be a great moment for them. And my whole family are Michi- gan fans. I'm very excited. Ready to get up there now." His expectations for his freshman year have more to do with how he plans on at- tacking the challenge than anything else. "I think it still kind of depends on who's coming in, but for me, I'm going to go up there and I feel like I'm going to do what I need to do," the Michigan signee said. "So, at that point, it's just the coaches' decision. But I know I'm going to go up there, work hard, give my all, put in extra hours. I know what I'll go up there and do, but [we'll see] how the situation falls." ❏ Brooks By The Numbers • Registered 27.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals per contest as a senior in 2023-24 … Finished high school with an 82-15 record over four years on varsity. • In his junior season, averaged 20.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game … Surpassed 1,000 career points with a 20-point showing in a win over Ottawa Hills. • Tallied 22 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals in a state semifinal win over Ferndale in 2021-22. • Posted a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in a state championship game victory over Pennfield, capping off a per - fect 20-0 season in 2020-21. — Clayton Sayfie Brooks averaged 27.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game as a senior at Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central last season. PHOTO COURTESY DURRAL BROOKS