Keion Brooks Jr.

Last updated
Keion Brooks Jr.
Keion Brooks Kentucky (cropped).jpg
Brooks with Kentucky in 2022
No. 2–New Orleans Pelicans
Position Small forward / power forward
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2000-08-07) August 7, 2000 (age 23)
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school
College
Career history
2024–presentBirmingham Squadron
2024–present New Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights and awards

Keion Lee Brooks Jr. (born August 7, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. He previously played for the Kentucky Wildcats. Keion Brooks Jr. made his NBA Summer League debut on Friday July 12, 2024 in the starting lineup for New Orleans.

Contents

High school career

Brooks played basketball for North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a sophomore, he averaged 20.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, leading his team to the Class 4A state title game. [1] For his senior season, Brooks transferred to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana. [2] He played alongside current NBA player Isaiah Stewart and helped his team to a GEICO Nationals runner-up finish. [3] As a senior, Brooks averaged 20.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. [4] He was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic. [5]

Recruiting

Brooks was considered a five-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports, and a four-star recruit by ESPN. On March 15, 2019, he committed to playing college basketball for Kentucky over offers from Indiana, Michigan State and North Carolina. [6]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Keion Brooks Jr.
SF 		Fort Wayne, IN La Lumiere (IN)6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg)Mar 15, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A    Rivals: 5 stars.svg     247Sports: 5 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 29   247Sports: 14   ESPN: 36
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Kentucky 2019 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  • "2019 Kentucky Wildcats Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.

College career

Kentucky

As a freshman at Kentucky, Brooks averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. [7] He missed the first nine games of his sophomore season with a leg injury. [8] On February 6, 2021, Brooks posted a season-high 23 points and 11 rebounds in an 82–71 loss to Tennessee. [9] As a sophomore, he averaged 10.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. [10] On January 29, 2022, Brooks scored a career-high 27 points in a 80–62 victory against Kansas. [11] As a junior, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. On April 4, 2022, Brooks declared for the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. [12]

Washington

Instead of returning to Kentucky, Brooks decided to enter the transfer portal. On June 6, 2022, Brooks committed to the University of Washington. [13] He averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game as a senior. Brooks returned for his fifth season of eligibility. [14] He was named to the First Team All-Pac-12 at the conclusion of the regular season. [15]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2019–20 Kentucky 31615.1.472.263.6303.2.2.4.44.5
2020–21 Kentucky 16323.6.441.214.7956.81.6.6.810.3
2021–22 Kentucky 333324.5.491.233.7834.41.0.7.610.8
2022–23 Washington 303035.5.433.286.7946.71.4.71.217.7
Career1107224.7.456.265.7775.01.0.6.810.8

Personal life

Brooks' father, Keion Sr., played college basketball for Wright State. [16] Brooks has served on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player Development Coalition, as well as the Southeastern Conference Leadership Council and Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice. [17] [18]

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References

  1. ↑ Marini, Glenn (May 6, 2017). "Recruiting heating up for North Side's Keion Brooks Jr". WANE-TV . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ Guskey, Jordan; Neddenriep, Kyle (August 3, 2018). "5-star recruit Keion Brooks Jr. announces transfer to La Lumiere prep school". The Indianapolis Star . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  3. ↑ Hale, Jon (October 16, 2019). "Five-star forward Keion Brooks willing to do 'whatever is asked' for Kentucky basketball". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  4. ↑ Vaught, Larry (June 19, 2019). "Wildcats incoming freshman Brooks a beast on court, old soul off it". The Daily News . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Brooks Jr. impresses at Jordan Brand Classic". WANE-TV . April 21, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (March 15, 2019). "Top-40 senior PF Brooks commits to Kentucky". ESPN . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  7. ↑ Letcher, Tim (November 20, 2020). "UK sophomore Brooks embracing leadership role; averaged 4.5 points, 3.2 rebounds last season". NKyTribune. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  8. ↑ Hale, Jon (January 7, 2021). "Keion Brooks cleared to resume playing for Kentucky basketball after missing nine games". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  9. ↑ Tipton, Jerry (February 8, 2021). "'That's what this team needs.' Brooks' breakout big for Kentucky in a couple ways". Lexington Herald-Leader . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  10. ↑ Gear, Camille (May 28, 2021). "Kentucky forward Keion Brooks returns for junior season". WYMT-TV . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  11. ↑ Tipton, Jerry (January 29, 2022). "Keion Brooks and Oscar Tshiebwe co-star as Kentucky crushes Kansas". Lexington Herald-Leader . Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Kentucky's Keion Brooks Jr. to enter NBA draft, but keep eligibility". ESPN . April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  13. ↑ Hale, Jon (June 6, 2022). "After 3 unprecedented years with Kentucky basketball, Keion Brooks to leave for Washington". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ Allen, Percy (October 10, 2023). "Washington's Keion Brooks Jr., former Zag Oumar Ballo named to All-Pac-12 men's basketball preseason team". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  15. ↑ Allen, Percy (March 12, 2023). "UW's Keion Brooks Jr. makes All-Pac-12 team, Koren Johnson named Pac-12 Sixth Player". The Seattle Times . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ↑ Neddenriep, Kyle (April 29, 2017). "Humble and hungry Keion Brooks Jr. drawing nationwide interest". The Indianapolis Star . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  17. ↑ Gear, Camille (September 16, 2021). "Keion Brooks Jr., Blair Green to attend SEC Leadership Council". WYMT-TV . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  18. ↑ Fisher, Chris (August 17, 2020). "Keion Brooks Jr. selected for NABC Player Development Coalition". 247Sports . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
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