2017 - PG - Eli Brooks (Commit)

[gobluemd16_]

Everyone on the court looks the exact same height lol

[UMHoopsFan]

Article from Quinn on Brooks and Donlon:

New Michigan assistant Billy Donlon key in Eli Brooks' surprise commitment

[umhoops]

Will post some highlights this afternoon. He’s definitely a point guard.

[umhoops]

Video: Eli Brooks Highlights | UM Hoops.com

[BleedBlue]

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

[umhoops]

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 we’ve mentioned a few times on the board and page.

[tarverine]

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

[MattD]

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

[umhoops]

Some quick thoughts on the video I posted:

• Great feel for the game, finds guys very well across the court – 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 he’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 he’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 want… You can’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 he’ll be able to come off the bench and run pick and rolls in bunches as a change up to the offense.

[umhoops]

@MattD

Think we could’ve waited and landed a prospect with more talent in either 17 or 18 though.

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

[umhoops]

I think he can push it for sure, I also think he’s pretty well controlled. Doesn’t rush the game when he plays. I wouldn’t say he’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. Don’t really see the ‘combo guard’ thing at all.

[umhoops]

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

[umhoops]

Let’s look at the big picture… How are we grading a backcourt of Simpson, Brooks, Matthews, Poole and Watson.

It’s basically those guys over two classes that’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 it’s a pretty solid blend of length, shooting, athleticism in different spots.

[Alum05]

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, I’ll think we have a nice balance in the 2017 class.

[hailtoyourvictor]

I’m not seeing the small “combo guard” thing either. I think Brooks fits Beilein’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.

[hailtoyourvictor]

@MattD

Exact opposite for me, I don’t see the PG thing at all. You’re essentially talking about a 6’1 jumpshooting guard that doesn’t create easy dumpoffs for bigs consistently based on that film you put together. His passes tend to be behind him, or kickouts to shooters, but he’s not a creator/passer in the traditional sense, at least not IMO. Very curious to see what role he plays

I’ve seen several nice dumpoffs in the game and a half I’ve watched. I don’t think he is dumping off to very good bigs, though. Also, when you drive and kick out a lot, it’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 PA’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.

[hailtoyourvictor]

@MattD

I don’t think his release is very quick, however it is relatively high, which will be necessary considering he has a set shot. In no way do I think he’s a PG that will draw help side defense that creates opportunities for bigs to get dunks/lay ups. Think he’s more in the Derrick Walton mode where he gets the ball past half court and stands in the corner.

Not a bad player by any stretch, but I think we’d all agree we were looking for a talent upgrade for each recruit, and this is not a talent upgrade if we’re being honest. Should’ve waited for a more talented prospect in 17 or 18 IMO. That being said I think Poole and Matthews are talent upgrades, but it is critical that our remaining 2 recruits are talent upgrades rather than role players with low ceilings.

I think he has a quick release.

I think Eli Brooks is talented. I don’t think he will take X’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 isn’t a bad thing… “if we’re being honest”.

[hailtoyourvictor]

@MattD

We just disagree. I simply don’t think he’s a guy that will Iso/do much creating - I do concede it’s not a clear case either way though. However, I don’t think you’ll find many people that agree with you in terms of comp level - it’s very poor.

1. I didn’t say he would be an ISO player. In fact, I’ve said the opposite. Read, please.

2. I didn’t give an opinion on level of competition. It’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.

[Alum05]

No, I don’t think “we’d all agree.” 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.

[hailtoyourvictor]

@MattD

Again, we just disagree. I don’t care about fit at this point, we need a serious talent upgrade rather than more of the same, which is how I view Brooks. It’s the staffs job to get best available talent and find a way to make it work within a tweaked scheme rather than taking guys because they fit a system but may not be as talented IMO

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 “serious talent upgrade” and with those players I like to see nice fit. I think Brooks is a nice fit.