2017 - PG - Eli Brooks (Commit)

Everyone on the court looks the exact same height lol

Article from Quinn on Brooks and Donlon:

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Will post some highlights this afternoon. Heā€™s definitely a point guard.


So did he get the offer without having taken an official visit?

Official visit is not a requirement for an offer. Just a full visit with the academic tour (can be official or unofficial).

Brooks visited in late June, I think June 19th, as weā€™ve mentioned a few times on the board and page.

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Beating out the national champion from the previous year plus our 2nd biggest basketball rival is always good.

Feel much better about Brooks after seeing that film. Think we couldā€™ve waited and landed a prospect with more talent in either 17 or 18 though.

Some quick thoughts on the video I posted:

  • Great feel for the game, finds guys very well across the court ā€“ especially in transition. Showed ability to find guys in the PNR.
  • Good shooter, can knock down shots off the bounce. Quick release, range to three.
  • I think heā€™s bigger than X, legit 6-1 sounds fair. He has shown he can elevate and throw it down. Also a few crafty moves to finish around the rim.
  • Think he has some good wiggle, could break guys down off the bounce occasionally when he needed to.
  • Quick with the ball, not sure how great heā€™ll be defensively early on and tough to judge given level of competition.
  • I like how he plays, we can harp on the good/bad competition thing all we wantā€¦ You canā€™t change it, and it will be interesting to see how he handles a step up eventually but almost impossible to project.
  • If Xavier is your starting point guard, I think Brooks has the sort of mature game that heā€™ll be able to come off the bench and run pick and rolls in bunches as a change up to the offense.

If you are going to take a PG, and it is pretty clear that they were going to take a PG, Iā€™m not sure Nojel Eastern is worth the risk of waiting out Brooks ā€“ given the lack of other serious targets at that spot.

I think he can push it for sure, I also think heā€™s pretty well controlled. Doesnā€™t rush the game when he plays. I wouldnā€™t say heā€™s a Tum Tum Nairn type of guy with the ball, but he gets where he needs to be.

I think his offensive game translates pretty well to the one at Michigan. Donā€™t really see the ā€˜combo guardā€™ thing at all.

Definitely a recent development, but a lot of attention to Davison, Eastern and Brooks over the last two months.

Letā€™s look at the big pictureā€¦ How are we grading a backcourt of Simpson, Brooks, Matthews, Poole and Watson.

Itā€™s basically those guys over two classes thatā€™ll be the future of the U-M guard rotation. How good can that group be? How well do the complement each other? I think itā€™s a pretty solid blend of length, shooting, athleticism in different spots.

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That description sounds like the senior version of Marcus Paige. Nothing happens in a vacuum. We already have Matthews on board. If we can finish this class with some combination of Cain, Wilkes, Tillman, and Livers, Iā€™ll think we have a nice balance in the 2017 class.

Iā€™m not seeing the small ā€œcombo guardā€ thing either. I think Brooks fits Beileinā€™s offense as a true PG with his ability to play off of ball screens. That jump shot and quick release he has coming off a screen could be lethal.

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Iā€™ve seen several nice dumpoffs in the game and a half Iā€™ve watched. I donā€™t think he is dumping off to very good bigs, though. Also, when you drive and kick out a lot, itā€™s nice that those kickouts will be to guys like Jordan Poole and Duncan Robinson.

Regarding lack of competition, again he was 2nd team all state in PAā€™s highest class (AAAA). If PA has a Mr. Basketball award, Eli Brooks would be heading into 2017 as one of the favorites if not the favorite himself.

I think he has a quick release.

I think Eli Brooks is talented. I donā€™t think he will take Xā€™s starting position, but having a high-IQ player that fits in the offense in terms of ball control and shooting at the locked up at backup PG for 4 years isnā€™t a bad thingā€¦ ā€œif weā€™re being honestā€.

  1. I didnā€™t say he would be an ISO player. In fact, Iā€™ve said the opposite. Read, please.

  2. I didnā€™t give an opinion on level of competition. Itā€™s not a matter of agreeing with me. I stated a fact that he plays (AAAA) basketball in PA and was a (AAAA) 2nd team All-State player.

  3. My opinion is that he would likely be one of the favorites for PA Mr. Basketball if they have it considering he was one of only 3 JRs to make the 1st or 2nd team All-State last season.

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No, I donā€™t think ā€œweā€™d all agree.ā€ I think this is a clear talent upgrade over Spike/Dakich. You get 13 scholarships. I think having 2 scholarship PGs is prudent.

We could have tried waiting for a more talented '17 prospect, but then we run the risk of getting shut out.

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I believe we are getting a serious talent upgrade with Simpson, Poole, and Matthews. Brooks is a nice piece of the puzzle. Not every player is going to be a ā€œserious talent upgradeā€ and with those players I like to see nice fit. I think Brooks is a nice fit.

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